Navajo Nation Judicial Branch: New Law and Old Law Together

Year

The Judicial Branch of the Navajo Nation seeks to revive and strengthen traditional common law while ensuring the efficacy of the Nation’s western-based court model adopted by the Nation. With over 250 Peacemakers among its seven court districts, the Judicial Branch utilizes traditional methods of dispute resolution as the "law of preference," which allows the courts to be more responsive to people, issues, and traditional institutions. Responding to a desire for others to learn how the Navajo judicial system operates and to teach others how to effectively utilize common law, the Supreme Court has held more than 13 sessions in off-Reservation venues since 1992. The Branch has also developed the Navajo Nation Bar Association, comprised of over 300 members who are licensed to practice in the Navajo Courts.

Native Nations
Resource Type
Citation

"New Law and Old Law Together". Honoring Nations: 1999 Honoree. The Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. Cambridge, Massachusetts. 2000. Report.

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This Honoring Nations report is featured on the Indigenous Governance Database with the permission of the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development.

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