Diné courts announce 3 vacancies

By Karen Francis
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — Kee Allen Begay, chair of the Judiciary Committee, announced that the Navajo Nation’s Judicial Branch is seeking qualified applicants to fill three district court judge vacancies for the tribal court system.

The deadline for applicants to submit their paperwork to Ed Martin from the Judicial Branch is Aug. 6.

Begay said he is especially encouraging young people and graduates of law school to apply. The qualifications are spelled out in Title 7 of the Navajo Nation Code. The minimum qualification is an associate’s degree, Begay said.

“Now since we’re looking for three positions, we are hoping to get at least 10 for the committee to interview,” he added.

After the committee screens and evaluates the applicants, it then forwards a list of names to the president of the Navajo Nation who then conducts his own interviews. The president makes the appointment and the Judiciary Committee presents legislation to the Navajo Nation Council to confirm for a two-year probationary period.

“The committee is doing its best to provide quality court service for our Navajo people, and with these vacant positions, it’s just a matter that sometimes the judges are strained with caseloads and then they have to be called to another district court to hear cases,” Begay said. “We want each district court to have their own judges available.”

Begay said that within the probationary period, the judges receive training and are evaluated every quarter. He also said that the committee has recommended to the chief justice to pair up new judges with current judges to help them learn the ropes.

After the two year probationary period, the chief justice can recommend for permanent appointment or a longer probationary period, Begay said.

Two seats became vacant last month when then-district court judges — Louise Grant and Eleanor Shirley — were confirmed to the Supreme Court by the Navajo Nation Council.

Information: (928) 871-6762