This is a view few have seen, yet the tribal courts within Indian country are hard at work keeping the matters of state flowing, and guarding each Tribal Nations Sovereignty, the court Room is the watchdog within each of the Tribal Nations, as well as the Colonial Nations within the World Community. Both serve Justice Colonial Indigiouns/ Sovereign. Here is where matters are to be settled, between all, this is where all of the Indian wars have led us to. Thus we continue to fight on such as to protect the rights of those whom have been wronged and to promote a civilized structure of community and to settle such matters in a civil process where all can come to terms of satisfaction and find justice.

Overview:
There are 3 different court Systems within the United States which are designed to work together, and do so well. To aide in the education about these systems we will first divide them into two groups - Colonial and Sovereign.

Colonial: called this by those that are Indigenous as they were formed from the white mans colonies or from the European class or cast system of government. This is also called the common law for those not of nobility in rank thus the common law of the common people. The laws were different pending on the cast of sect of persons you fell in either common or that of Nobility. The term Court comes from the place of rule or where a set of rule was passed. This where nobility passed the rule of law upon their subject and thus controlled the lands with enforced law. Thus the Nobles had laws of theirs and enforced the kings law which ruled all of them collectively. The Common laws were brought to the United States through two major powers in Europe - Spain and England. However, the Napoleonic Law system is named after Napoleon of France. Even though Russia had a colony within the United States, the system of rule was based upon Sovereign rule of the Tsar or that of the Noble on the Throne.

This brings us to the present Federal System where there is a greater State and a lesser vassel state or states even though sovereign with in its own as such. When placed together collectively they make up the common greater state or that of the federal state. These laws set up how the lesser vassals will work together for the common good of one another, even though independent by division there are a set of federal guidelines of which the vessel state must abide by, thus allowing the greater vassal to worry about international relations as to the lesser for more internal affairs.

The Federal Court / Colonial Court system (common law) is for such matters to come before the nation after it has been heard on the state level or as such a matter between the state and another party, or state vs. state. The federal system is there to settle such as civil rights, or as a matter of a national law or national security issues which certain laws may of been in effect that were broken and thus must be corrected.

• District - starting process of the federal system
• District - specialty - bankruptcy - citizenship naturalization/immigration- tax affairs
• Circuit Court - appeals
• Supreme Court Untied States - final decision in all Colonial Matters - Chief Justice administrator
• Enforcement : US Marshal / FBI- BATF and other specialty federal agencies e.g.: Secret Service, and US Forestry Services

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The State Court / Colonial Court system (common law) has many divisions, of which may start at the municipal level and proceed upward. the only example where this is different is that of the Parishes in Louisiana where Napoleonic or French law Structure stands. However, most structure is like where there is a common law state. Some common wealth states may differ a bit, on their structure, however the common thread of all laws within the United States is the Constitution.

• Municipality - city judge (traffic and class c and misdemeanor)
• Justice of the Peace/ Small Claims, land lord tenant / binding arbitration (traffic and class c and misdemeanor)
• District - administration of counties- County Judge- appeals from small claims
• Specialty courts - family, probate, tax, criminal - other tribunals - court martial
• Court of Appeals
• State Supreme Court / State Chief Justice Administrator
• Enforcement - local police - municipalities/ Marshals - County Sheriff - Constables and State Police - and its subdivisions of Internal Affairs or special agencies: in Texas it would be the Texas Rangers

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The Tribal Court - Sovereign Court
The Sovereign Courts are different: Each Tribal Nation are like States in many ways except they have no representation to Congress other than that of the President of the Untied States. Tribal Nations are sovereign all except one are Sovereign Dependants, the one that is not is a Sovereign Protectorate, that one being Tejas. Each Tribal Nation like states has a constitution, and Sovereignty, but there are many differences within in Indian Nations of which there may be over 500+ Tribal Nations with in the Untied States. They are unique and have more authority than that of a State and can overturn such state's decisions when dealing with Indian affairs for they alone are Sovereign with in their own Right and thus not even the United States Supreme Court may overrule a Sovereign Tribal Courts decision. Nor may a State Interfere with in a Tribal Courts Affairs - as seen in USSC Cherokee Nation V Georgia. Note that only Congress may overturn a Tribal Courts Decision, of which is a dangerous thing to do as that would violate international law and thus the Sovereignty of another nation, as such Congress would have to meet in full session as a court with all persons to the general assembly and hear such a case and the case would have to be unaminous to over turn such a ruling. This has never been done in the history of the United States. It would be a cause for such an upheaval of indigenous peoples that the international community would become involved - the World Court system.

In the case of the Tejas Nation, there is what is called Concurrent or shared Jurisdiction on some cases this is where a person who commits a crime may be charged with three separate counts for that one crime. State, Federal, Tribal- of which the tribal is the one that usually is the toughest. Trespass comes to mind within Indian Country - you can not afford it. In most Tribal Courts there is a lower court, a court of Appeals, and a Supreme Court. In Tejas, our system is constituted as to the following:

• Municipal court
• Peace Keepers Court
• Justice of the Peace
• Magistrate and lower courts
• Court of Discovery - civil - criminal - administrative
• Superior Court
• Court of Appeals
• Tribal Supreme Court / court martial and final matters

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Sovereign Court - note the Term Sovereign is utilized in Tejas when a Chief is a sitting Judge on that court, it is mostly reserved for when the Tettat is awakened and sits on the bench as a Justice. Enforcement for Tejas, the Tribal police, - MIB-The Grey Riders (elected officials) in some cases Constables, and those certified by the Tribal Courts. The Chief Justice is the Administrator of the Tribal Court System in Tejas. Within the Tejas System there is what is called a Judicial pool where the Judges draw a lottery to hear cases. The one who draws the black stone hears the case. If the Chief Justice hears the case and he is not the Tettat you will have only once chance to appeal. If the Tettat is awakened (called the Sovereign Court of the Tettat) and if the Tettat is the Chief Justice and hears a lower court case there is no appeal. The Court of Discovery is the court which will determine to hand up or down such cases or whether or not to hear a particular case. This is the starting place of all law suits in Tejas, keep in mind that there are no statutes of limitations in Tejas, as to such some cases take president over others or as much as they are deemed to be related, thus the Court of Discovery is a place of Discovery of what is the real problem and why are you here? The Court of Discovery is as such a place where all maters will be placed on the table and brought to bear.



Frequently asked questions (FAQs):

Does an Indian nation have the right to write a traffic ticket?
Yes - the US Dept of Transportation gives Tribal police and the Tribal courts the right to enforce Federal and state Safety USDOT guidelines, as well as enforce state and tribal motor vehicle guidelines.

Can an Indian Nation charge a non-Indian with a crime?
Yes - if you commit a crime, Tribal officials through a treaty with the Untied States, are charged with trying you with that crime and bringing you to justice through the tribal court system. In some cases this may be looked at as a treaty violation and as such punishment is severe and could cost you two years of hard labor in a military prison at the pleasure of the Chief.

What do I do if I am charged with a Crime by a Tribal Nation?
First off, do not commit any crime and you would not have to worry about such things. Since we get this question a lot you should: 1)Show up to your Court Date, 2)Retain a lawyer in some cases some one whom is familiar with federal code and be sure that they are licensed to practice in that court. The judges in Tribal courts are strict yet understand many complexities between the colonial and sovereign systems and as such that this may be unusual to you to stand before them, be respectful, truthful, and ask for council. Do not joke around with a tribal judge. If there is humor, let them use such. It is encouraged that if you are found guilty for infractions pay your fines and fees on time and do your community service work. Yes - Tribal judges utilize community service as to make one aware of what that they were doing was wrong and how it affects the community as a whole.

How do I address a Tribal judge?
"Your honor" is the most popular and concise way - Sir and Ma'am are also correct. The use of common manners will help you in your situation, so be polite and courteous.

If found guilty, can a Tribal Court sentence me to jail or prison?
Yes - jail in most cases and in some cases prison, and other cases where there may be a capital case even the death sentence has been utilized by some Tribal Courts. Just a reminder, some tribal courts do not use the needle or gas either because they are sovereign. They may still utilize their preferred traditional methods. Suggestion: don't go there. Some tribal nations have a treaty which will guide them as to whom will become the guardian of those who become prisoners of that particular tribal nation for the duration of such custody, yet the Tribal Nation will dictate as to case care received. Keep in mind that a Tribal court is a very serious place to be and as such carries the weight and aid of the federal government, and in some cases both that the state and the federal government may fall upon a person rather heavily if orders from a Tribal Judge are not followed through.

How do I enroll into the Tejas Indians?
As of January 2, 2008, you must file / enter a public letter of intent with the GCOC and file a petition with in the Tribal Court of Discovery, through the Court Clerk for such enrolment process to begin. This is a long process, yet it is necessary.

Can I enter a plea prosay without an attorney?
Yes - this is not recommended, yet it is often done for the lack of qualified attorneys to practice within a Tribal Court system.

How do I do such?
You must file a letter of intent with the Court Clerk, and pay your cost and fees up front these are non-refundable. The Court Clerk will assist you in sending you a packet which you will need to sign, and have notarized, by a Notary Public. Then follow the instruction as given by the Court Clerk.