A lawsuit over term limits has cleared the way for Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith to run for office again.

Smith was elected in 1999. He wanted to know whether a provision in the tribal constitution that limits officials to two terms in office went into effect.

A tribal court said it went into effect after the Bureau of Indian Affairs approved the constitution in 2003. That means Smith can run again because he is only serving his first term under the new constitution.

The ruling also applies to members of the tribal council.

Get the Story:
Cherokee Nation court makes term-limit ruling (The Cherokee Phoenix 5/22)
Tribe's chief seeks new term (The Tulsa World 5/22)

Related Stories:
Cherokee court handed lawsuit over term limits (3/25)
Cherokee Nation debates ending term limits (3/17)
Cherokee Nation chief plans bid for re-election (11/26)