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JANUARY 18, 2001

The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma and the Cherokee County officials are involved in a dispute over cross-deputization that has ties to a lawsuit filed by Chief Chad Smith.

In a press release, the Cherokee Nation on Monday said the county and the tribe were close to a cross-deputization agreement. But the tribe said District Attorney Diane Barker-Harrold would not support such an agreement until Smith's lawsuit is dropped.

In response, Barker-Harrold issued her own statement saying Smith's lawsuit basically has no merit. It was filed in response to an incident at the tribal coutrhouse in which he was arrested by state and county officials.

Smith contends the officials no jurisdiction over him because the courthouse is Indian Country. The state says the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the US Attorney don't agree.

Get the Story:
Indian Country claims disputed (The Tulsa World 1/18)
Principal Chief, D.A. Close to Cross-Deputization Settlement (The Cherokee Nation 1/15)