2.01.070 Composition of the Judiciary

(a) The Tribal Court shall consist of a Chief Judge and as many Associate Judges as deemed necessary by the Tribal Council. Each judge shall be elected by the eligible voters of the Tribe for a term of three (3) years. The Court of Appeals shall consist of a Chief Judge and two Associate Justices. The Tribal Court Judges may sit as members of the Court of Appeals. The future composition of the Tribal Court may be changed through amendments to this chapter.

(b) Until such time as elections are held to elect judges, all judges of the Tribal Court and the Court of Appeals shall be temporarily appointed as either contract or per diem judges. Notwithstanding the provisions for elected judges, the Tribal Council may appoint per diem Judges to hear cases from time to time as needed because of vacations, disabilities, disqualification, recusal or removal of any judge.