Wind River Reservation begins operation of newly formed Tribal Court

Riverton, WY.   –     A new Tribal Court will will begin operating today on the Wind River Reservation. The move comes as part of a revision of joint programs between the two tribes that share the reservation, the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes.

The new court, formed by a commission that oversees the reservation judicial system, will replace the former Court of Indian Offenses.

Terri Smith, who was named the New Wind River Tribal Court Chief Judge last week, stated that all active or open cases from the former court are being absorbed by the new court court, and that any sentences hadned down by the previous court will be enforced by the new one.

Associate judges and clerks were sworn in on Monday afternoon.