TAHLEQUAH â The Tribal Council on March 15 appointed a new Cherokee Nation district judge as part of the tribeâs ongoing efforts to ensure criminal justice is served following the historic McGirt decision in 2020 and a March 11 ruling from the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, which will likely lead to the dismissal of hundreds of state criminal cases in the CN reservation. Councilors appointed Nathan Barnard as a District Court judge. In recent months, the Council has also appointed Amy Page as a district judge and Rex Earl Starr as a Supreme Court justice. âIn light of recent and long-overdue court decisions providing recognition of the Cherokee Nationâs reservation, and ultimately all of the Five Tribes, we are committed to ensuring Cherokee citizens and all members of our communities are protected,â said Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. âI commend the Council of the Cherokee Nation for appointing these judges and helping us to bolster our criminal justice system. We must continue to be ready to take action and help victims and their families and, whenever possible, file charges in our tribal court system. These judicial appointments are a critical part of that process.âÂ