Update from Chief

Update from Chief Gary Batton: 10/16/24

Tribal Sovereignty and the Upcoming Election

Published on: October 16, 2024

Halito Associates,

One of my most important duties as Chief of the Choctaw Nation is to do all that I can to protect our tribal sovereignty. As we all prepare to vote in the upcoming general election races, I want to make voters in Oklahoma aware of a potential threat to tribal sovereignty.

A campaign by a group called “People for Opportunity” is underway against three Oklahoma State Supreme Court justices. The fact that all three justices targeted by this negative TV advertisement campaign voted in favor of tribal sovereignty in all cases that came before them is likely not a coincidence.

Members of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, a far-right think tank, are leading this group that wants to oust Justices Yvonne Kauger, Noma Gurich, and James Edmondson. The vote no group says the three justices are “activist, liberal” judges even though all Oklahoma State Supreme Court justices are nonpartisan.

Key information on this topic that voters in Oklahoma should note:

  • If the justices are not retained, the Oklahoma Governor appoints their successor (with the help of the Judicial Nomination Commission).
  • The tribal sovereignty views of the current Oklahoma Governor are well-known and not in a good way for our tribes.
  • The current Oklahoma Governor has already appointed three of the nine justices who sit on the State Supreme Court, meaning he would have the opportunity to have six justices on the court if this “vote no” effort succeeds against these three justices.

Elections have consequences. When I cast my ballot in the upcoming election, I’ll be voting to retain Justices Kauger, Gurich, and Edmondson on the Oklahoma State Supreme Court as I believe a “yes” vote on retaining these justices is also a vote in favor of tribal sovereignty.

Please remember to vote Nov. 5 (or earlier if you’re voting by Absentee Ballot or participating in early voting at your county precinct in Oklahoma on Oct. 30, Oct. 31, Nov. 1, or Nov. 2). And please reach out to our Government Affairs team if you need additional information on this topic or have any other election-related questions:

Yakoke!

Chief Gary Batton,
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

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