On the 4th day of April 2006, a revised Constitution was ratified by the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes and accepted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. VIII of the Constitution comprises the Judicial Branch consisting of a Supreme Court, Trial Court and Judicial Commission.
The Supreme Court is composed of a Chief Justice and four Associate Justices.
The Chief Justice: Ryland L. Rivas
Associate Justice: Dennis W. Arrow
Associate Justice: Enid K. Boles
Associate Justice: Karen Eby
Associate Justice: Lindsay Robertson
The Trial Court is composed of the Chief Judge, Associate Judge and other Associate Judges, Court Clerk, Deputy Court Clerk, Attorney General, Public Defender and Probation Officer.
The Chief Judge: Bob A. Smith
The Associate Judge: Position is being advertised for recruitment.
Associate Judge: Dana Deere
Associate Judge: Barbara A. Smith
Court Clerk: Patty Bell
Deputy Court Clerk: Lena Marquez
Attorney General: Charlie Morris
Assistant Attorney General : Kim Richey
Public Defender: Kelley Harris
Probation Officer: Vacant
The Judicial Commission consists of five members.
Chairperson: Statia Peakheart
Vice Chairperson: Harvey Pratt
Member: Wallace Avans
Member: Kendall Old Crow
Member: Gene Wahweah
Projects to be implemented;
Construction of Courthouse: A committee was established to construct a state of the art tribal courthouse. Plans are being developed and construction will soon begin to provide needed space and to better serve tribal members.
Automation of Court Records: Through the Kellpro System, tribal court records are being automated for access by tribal members and the general public. Records for 2008 to date are being finalized. Records from the time the court has been in existence, approximately 20 years, will be added to the system. The Trial Court records for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes will be the second Tribe in Oklahoma to be automated.
Wellness Court: Court personnel and Tribal representatives have received extensive national training for the establishing of a Wellness Court to deal with addiction for both juveniles and adults. With or without a Department of Justice grant, it is anticipated a Wellness Court will be operational in the next fiscal year.