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Ballot issue to create judicial branch for KBIC approved after mail-in vote

BARAGA — On Tuesday, ballots were counted from the mail-in election concerning the adoption of Article IX to the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community(KBIC) constitution. The ballot issue passed with a vote of 101-82, with approximately two-thirds of registered voters casting a ballot. Article IX establishes a Tribal Court independent of and coequal to the Tribal Council and free of political influence.

The current Tribal Court was created to deal with the administration of law and justice in 1974. The Tribal Council created it when it approved Title One of the Tribal Code, so it isn’t technically coequal or separate from the council. Adding it to the constitution as Article IX changes that, but requires a community vote.

“Now we do have a separate judicial branch,” said KBIC President Warren “Chris” Swartz Jr.

The amendment is in a federally mandated cooldown period now, and will take effect after the Bureau of Indian Affairs approves.

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