IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Announcements

JUDICIAL BRANCH CONTACT INFORMATION (will be updated)
Administrative Orders
Webpage with General Information on Protection Orders, How to Obtain an Application for Protection Order, and How to Submit
Application for Protection from Domestic Abuse and Service of Process
July 21, 2022: Our website is experiencing technical issues. Please use the following link to access our website: https://courts.navajo-nsn.gov/

April 3, 2020: Pueblo Pintado Circuit Court is closed until further notice. Essential services for Pueblo Pintado Circuit Court will be available at Crownpoint District Court. Please call (505) 786-2072 if you have any questions. Also as a reminder, the entrance doors at Crownpoint District Court are closed to the public but essential services are available. Please call the Crownpoint Court at (505) 786-2072 if you have any questions.

April 2, 2020: Most Navajo Nation District Courts are accepting credit card payments for civil traffic fines through telephone. These payments can also be made by money order and mailed to the District Court. Payments for other fines and fees must be made by money order and may be mailed to the respective court. Window Rock Court, Shiprock Court, To'hajiilee Court and Alamo are only accepting money orders at this time until further notice. If you have any questions, please call the court.

March 30, 2020: The Navajo Nation uses a sender verification system designed to eliminate spam, bulk and malicious emails. If you email the courts from a non-Navajo Nation email address, please make sure to verify your email address by following the instructions sent back to you by email. This will allow for your email to go through to the intended recipient. Also, if sending documents by fax or email, we encourage you to contact the court or program by telephone to ensure that your email or fax is received.

Click here for archive on select announcements related to COVID-19.

Closures and Relocations

Holiday closure

None.

News and other announcements ▲

Justice Day

The Supreme Court, Window Rock District Court, Peacemaking Program and Administrative Offices of the Courts are hosting Justice Day on April 4, 2023, to celebrate the creation of the Navajo Nation Court system. We are inviting service providers to set up at the Supreme Court/WRDC parking lot. If you have any questions, please contact karenfrancis@navajo-nsn.gov. Justice Day Flyer. Service Provider Registration Form.

CHIEF JUSTICE STATEMENT ON PASSING OF CHAIRMAN AND PRESIDENT PETERSON ZAH

Former Chairman and President Peterson Zah passed on March 7, 2022. Chief Justice JoAnn B. Jayne released the following statement on behalf of the Judicial Branch of the Navajo Nation. “We pay homage to our honored and respected leader, Peterson Zah, the only person to serve as the Navajo Nation’s Chairman and President. He led our people through a transition period for our government and set the stage to preserve Navajo Nation sovereignty with the development of the Permanent Trust Fund. His influence is ever present, to this day, through his leadership and his advocacy to advance education among our people. We, at the Judicial Branch, offer our sincere condolences to his family and friends and to all our Navajo people for he touched the lives of each of US.”

SEEKING NOMINEE TO GOVERNMENT DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION

The Judicial Branch of the Navajo Nation is seeking applicants for nomination of membership on the Commission on Navajo Government Development. Click for more information.

Grant: 2022 U.S. Department of Justice Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant
Applicant(s): The Judicial Branch of the Navajo Nation
Title: Training to Improve Court Services
Category 2: Eligible Allocation Amounts of $25,000 or More
Allocated Amount: $168,791

The Navajo Nation proposes to improve the efficiency of court services by providing necessary tools through training, education and equipment to the Navajo Nation Judicial Districts. Training will focus on case management for court staff, fundamentals of evidence, evidentiary issues and principles of evidence and identifying procedural tools to resolve evidentiary issues. Any review comments on the attached grant narrative can be directed to Karen Francis at karenfrancis@navajo-nsn.gov or to Raquel Chee at rchee@navajo-nsn.gov. Thank you.

Grant: 2021 U.S. Department of Justice Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant
Applicant(s): The Judicial Branch of the Navajo Nation
Title: Justice Strategic Planning
Amount requested: $192,073

The Navajo Nation proposes to continue the work to collect data, manage data and analyze data that is collected about violent crimes committed on the reservation. A Statistical Data Analyst will be maintained at the Division of Public Safety – Information Management Section. Justice planning, utilizing the data, will be used for justice planning to implement and inform our Diné Action Plan. The Peacemaking Program will work to foster healthy discussions of healing with victims and survivors of missing and murdered persons and will support the rollout of a toolkit for missing persons. For more information or questions, please contact Karen Francis at karenfrancis@navajo-nsn.gov or Raquel Chee at rchee@navajo-nsn.gov.
FY 2023 1st Quarterly Report released

January 22, 2023: The Fiscal Year 2023 First Quarterly Report of the Judicial Branch is available on the Branch Reports page.
Statement on passing of James Henderson, Jr.

December 31, 2022: Chief Justice JoAnn B. Jayne released the following statement on the passing of James Henderson, Jr., who served in the Arizona State Senate from 1985 to 1999. "On behalf of the Judicial Branch of the Navajo Nation, I extend our condolences to our colleague Elaine Henderson, her family and the family and friends of Senator James Henderson, Jr. Senator Henderson was a naá ta'ni who was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend. We will forever be grateful for his knowledge, dedication to public service, and leadership qualities he shared with the Navajo people, and the people of the state of Arizona. May his legacy of service to the people live on in our hearts and actions."

Click here for press release archive.

Supreme Court Opinions ▲

July 9, 2021: Navajo Nation Division of Economic Development v. Dineh Benally. Opinion. SC-CV-18-20

For all opinions (2013 - present) for which no motions are pending, click here.

The Navajo Reporter, Volumes 1-9 are available for purchase. NOTE: Volume 4 is out of stock and not available at this time. Click here for more information.