Tips for Muscogee Nation Civil Law, Muscogee Creek Nation District Court

Introduction

The Muscogee Creek Nation District Court has jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters that are not explicitly excluded from the court’s jurisdiction. The District Court also has appellate jurisdiction to review the decisions of the Tribal Court. The District Court hears appeals of administrative agency orders and jury trial appeals from decisions of the Tribal Court. The District Court also reviews tribal agencies’ legal decisions for conformity with Muscogee law.

Muscogee Creek Nation District Court

The Muscogee Nation District Court has jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters that are not explicitly excluded from the court’s jurisdiction. The amount in controversy, in any case, must exceed $3,000.00.

The Court can hear cases involving matters arising under tribal laws and ordinances, as well as cases involving individual rights protected by federal law or treaties between nations of Native Americans with the United States government. The Courts also have limited authority in family law matters involving divorce, custody, or support orders (but only if both parties are eligible for tribal membership).

If you live on or near a reservation: To file a lawsuit in tribal court and get a judgment against someone who lives near you, you first need to serve him or her with notice of your lawsuit by delivering it personally (“personal service”) or through an authorized “process server.” You may need to use certified mail when serving this type of document because it has been accepted by a judge as valid service even though personal delivery was not possible due to the distance between locations involved in a case that was filed within State boundaries where no Tribal Reservations exist outside city limits.

Tribal Court Jurisdiction

The jurisdiction of the Muscogee Nation District Court and Tribal Court is limited to cases involving:

• Civil matters with only Muscogee citizens as parties;
• Criminal cases where the defendant is a Muscogee citizen;
• Probate cases where at least one of the parties involved is a Muscogee citizen;

However, there are certain types of civil matters that may be filed in either court. For example, you may file an ordinary civil action in either court if it arises out of commerce or trade between two or more states or foreign nations, or if the controversy involves interests in real property located on tribal lands within or outside Oklahoma.

Tribal Judges

Tribal judges are appointed by the tribal council and confirmed by a special committee. They serve for life unless they are removed through impeachment or resignation. The Muscogee Creek Nation Constitution requires that all tribal court judges be attorneys licensed to practice law in one of the fifty states or territories of the United States, and that at least three-fourths of them be citizens who have been members of the tribe since birth or naturalization.

Knowledgeable, Concerned Attorneys for Your Muscogee Nation Legal Matter Muscogee Creek Nation District Court

If you need a knowledgeable, concerned attorney for your Muscogee Nation legal matter, the best place to start is with the Muscogee Creek Nation District Court. The court has jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters that are not explicitly excluded from the court’s jurisdiction.

The tribe’s judicial system also includes judges appointed by tribal courts and justices of the peace who serve as magistrates in small claims cases.

The representation you need for your Muscogee Nation legal matter

The representation you need for your Muscogee Nation legal matter

• You are looking for knowledgeable, concerned attorneys for your Muscogee Nation legal matter.
• You want an attorney who will get to know you as a person and not just a case number.
• You want an attorney who will keep you informed about what is happening with your case and how long it might take to resolve the issue at hand.
• You want an attorney who will address all of your questions and concerns promptly so that there are no misunderstandings between us regarding our goals or planned strategy in resolving your legal matter.

We provide these services: Muscogee Nation Civil Law (Real Estate Transactions), Muscogee Nation Criminal Law (Felonies/Misdemeanors/DUI/Domestic Violence/Criminal Traffic Offenses)

Muscogee Nation Civil Law

• Muscogee Nation Civil Law
• Muscogee Nation District Court
• Tribal Judges

To preserve public trust and confidence in the nation’s system of justice, district court judges are required to maintain a high standard of conduct. This includes:

o Protecting the constitutional rights of litigants, jurors, and parties;

o Avoiding impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in their professional and personal lives;

o Maintaining respect for others regardless of race, color, or national origin;

o Not engaging in any activity that interferes with their ability to perform judicial duties;

Conclusion

The Muscogee Nation District Court is a great resource for anyone who needs legal help in the Muscogee Creek Nation. The court has jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters that are not explicitly excluded from its jurisdiction. The District Court also has appellate jurisdiction over decisions of the Tribal Court of Appeals, and it reviews tribal agencies’ legal decisions for conformity with Muscogee law.