To become a bar member, you must complete an application with original documentation of good standing from a state bar and submit it to the Court.  Both the application and the certificate of good standing from a state bar must be originals; copied documents are not accepted.  After review and approval by the Justices, a notice will be sent informing you of admittance to the Cherokee Nation Bar Association.  The process usually takes around forty-five (45) days to complete.  If you have submitted an application and the review has taken longer, please contact the Supreme Court Clerk.  Please DO NOT send payment for bar fees until you are officially admitted and have received your letter from the court clerk.      

         Please mail completed applications with original certificates of good standing to Kendall Bird, Court Clerk; Cherokee Nation Supreme Court; P.O. Box 1097; Tahlequah, Ok 74465.

• Bar Member Application

• Oath of Attorney

• CNBA Contact Information Update Form

• Supreme Court Rules - Attorneys Rules No. 130-139

• Administrative Order Concerning Bar Dues Increase

• CNBA By-laws

Listing of Cherokee Nation Bar Association Members

    The Cherokee Nation Supreme Court Rule 150 as well as Cherokee Nation Code Annotated Title 85 Article 2 Section 48, creates rules to certify arbitrators to work within the tribe.  To become certified, the attorney must submit an application to the court.  Once approved by the Supreme Court Justices, the court clerk will maintain a list that parties must select from or be selected by the court clerk from rotation.  Arbitrator listing is combined with the attorney listing above.

CNAR application with oath

Due to the unprecedented interruption of the COVID-19 shutdown, our bar elections have been off schedule.  The last seating of officers occurred in 2019.  In order to get back on track, a new election will be held on March 15, 2023.

Nominations will be accepted for a 15 day period from February 13 to February 28.  All nominations shall be sent to cnba.elections@gmail.com and must include the following:

Subject: CNBA Nominations

I, (bar member), hereby nominate and endorse (candidate's name) as the (position seeking) of the Cherokee Nation Bar Association. Please accept this communication in lieu of my signature on the nomination form.

*Must include your name and CNBA number to be accepted as your electronic signature.

By March 3, 2023 those nominated and opt to proceed with the election will be listed and an online election will be held for each seat via a link to be released later.  Only bar members will be permitted to vote.  Following the election, information for the new officers will be distributed.