Law
First federal court trial held on Navajo Nation


The first-ever federal court trial on the Navajo Nation started on Tuesday in Shiprock, New Mexico.

The case, involving a beating on the Navajo Nation, is not linked to Shiprock but court officials wanted to hold it on the reservation in order to show local residents how the federal judicial process works. Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr. was among those in attendance as the trial opened.

The federal court, based in Albuquerque, plans to hold more hearings on the reservation. Navajo leaders welcomed the development because most Navajo crimes are handled in the federal system.

In related judicial news, Navajo Nation Council delegates say they may reconsider the tribe's stance on the death penalty in response to recent violent crimes on the reservation. But a survey of Navajos showed that 71 percent oppose capital punishment for tribal members.

Get the Story:
Historic trial begins in Shiprock (The Farmington Daily Times 12/14)
Murders have Din� mulling death penalty (The Gallup Independent 12/13)

Related Stories:
Supreme Court bars execution of juvenile offenders (03/02)
Indian teen could face death penalty for murder (10/08)
Supreme Court to rule on juvenile executions (01/27)
Death penalty negatively impacts Natives (6/11)
Navajo president wants to revisit death penalty (05/28)
Man would be first Indian on federal death row (5/22)
Supreme Court calls for new death penalty hearing (2/26)
Report: More Indians on state death row (12/12)
The Death Penalty: Race may matter (9/27)