I regret that I haven't been updating the Cherokee Times website as frequently as I would've liked. I have some necessary obligations to take care of first, but I will update the site as soon as possible. I can't, however, overlook this submission for "Rants and Raves" and felt the need to post it prior to appearing on the Cherokee Times site.
"In the One Feather toilet paper on January 21, I looked at the 'Cherokee Tribal Court Judgment Summary' for the court dates of January 9 and January 13. I'm literally in disbelief at our Court system. Read for yourself people! In total, there were 17 defendants who had 36 charges. 33 of those charges were 'Dismissed by Prosecutor' or 'Dismissed at the Request of Prosecution.' My calculator tells me 91.7% of all charges were DISMISSED! Out of the domestic violence cases on January 13, there were 9 defendants who had 19 charges put on them by the law for domestic violence. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE CHARGES WAS DISMISSED. Unbelievable! Why make our people pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for expensive court salaries when everything just gets DISMISSED and CRIMINALS GO FREE in this kangaroo court."
Of course the court isn't totally to blame. These cases could've been poorly or improperly investigated, or there was just insufficient evidence. Of course it could also be that the prosecution just didn't want to do its job.
What's disturbing is the domestic violence issue, and it shows a major symptom of a sick society. Tribal government doesn't take this issue seriously, and with the two top elected officials having a history of domestic violence, I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for them to effectively deal with it.
It's clear we need elected officials who truly understand or will at least attempt to understand the terror and the suffering domestic violence victims experience. It's because of this, I will truly look upon Chief Hicks with disgust every time he signs a domestic violence proclamation.
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