Tribal Court

Mission Statement
The Sac and Fox Nation Tribal Courts were created to insure the health and well-being of tribal members and uphold the Constitution of the Sac and Fox Nation.

Hours of Operation
The Sac and Fox Nation Tribal Court is open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with a one hour lunch unless observing the following legal holidays:  New Year ’s Day, President’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Sac and Fox Nation Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, American Indian Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.  If you have an emergency outside of normal business hours, please call 785-288-0193.  The Tribal Court holds session monthly, usually on the second Thursday of every month at 10:00 a.m.

Overview of the Tribal Court
In 1996, the Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska established a Tribal Court.  Based on a codified body of laws and penalties, the Sac and Fox Nation Tribal Court is a court of general jurisdiction.  Legal claims or disputes (both criminal and civil) arising on the Sac and Fox reservation or “trust” lands, are considered within the Tribal Court’s jurisdiction.
The Sac and Fox Nation Tribal Court is similar to most State District Courts in procedure and decorum.  Court cases are heard and decided upon by law trained Judges based upon legal codes enacted by the Sac and Fox Tribal Council.  Court trials and hearings are held with a Prosecuting Attorney, defense attorneys or civil attorneys, serving in capacities similar to State District Courts.
The records of the Tribal Court are available for inspection by the general public during regular business hours, except juvenile cases.

Types of Cases Adjudicated
The Sac and Fox Nation Tribal Court provides services to people living on Sac and Fox tribal land, tribal members and others whose cause of action began on Sac and Fox tribal land.  The types of cases heard in Tribal Court include:  Civil (contracts, torts, personal injury, domestic relations, registration of foreign judgments, general law and equity jurisdiction), Criminal, Juvenile, Small Claims (up to $2000) and Traffic.

Appellate Court
The Sac and Fox Appellate Court hears appeals from the Tribal Court.  The Appellate Court employs three Justices appointed to staggered terms.

Bar Association
The Tribal Bar Association of consists of attorneys admitted to practice before the Sac and Fox Nation Tribal Courts.  In order to practice law before the Tribal Courts, attorneys and lay advocates must first submit an application for admittance with the proper fees and take an Oath of Admission.

Assistance Provided
The Tribal Court Clerk is available to tribal members as a Kansas Notary Public.  While the Court Clerk cannot offer legal advice, fill-in-the-blank forms are available to tribal members for filing cases in Tribal Court, such as:  Divorce, Foreign Judgment, Guardianship, Living Will, Order of Protection and Small Claims.  The Court Clerk can also provide a list of attorneys admitted to practice before the Tribal Court to interested parties.