Cherokee Nation breaks ground on new Justice Center in Tahlequah

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. - The Cherokee Nation held a groundbreaking ceremony to kick off construction on a multi-million-dollar justice center in Tahlequah, expanding the tribe's judicial services, prosecutors and tribal police in a large facility that will better accommodate Cherokee citizens.

"To have a standalone justice center is a true symbol of our sovereignty and shows our commitment to expanding our criminal justice system in lightning speed after the wake of the McGirt decision," Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said. "This $40 million justice center will represent an investment in the future of our communities, protecting our citizens, strengthening public safety and ensuring that justice is administered with fairness and respect for our Cherokee people by our Cherokee people."

The new justice center will be located near the Cherokee Nation W.W. Keeler Tribal Complex, east of S. Bald Hill Road, and south of the Cherokee Nation EMS building. Spanning more than 65,500 square-feet, it will house the Supreme Court, district court, administrative functions to support the courts, the office of the Attorney General and prosecutors, and Marshal Service bailiffs and tribal police.

"This justice center is not just for our court and our prosecutors. It is for the Cherokee Nation people. Allow this to be a beacon of hope to all Cherokee Nation citizens, to know that their tribe is always fighting for justice for them," said Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner.

McGirt v. Oklahoma of 2020 and Hogner v. State of 2021 reaffirmed the Cherokee Nation Reservation. Since the McGirt ruling, the Cherokee Nation has filed over 33,000 charges within the tribe's district court and had a caseload of 8,500 this year.

"It's a great day to break ground on this new justice center that is yet another sign of our commitment to prosecuting crimes committed on our reservation, protecting victims and expanding yet again our criminal justice system for the future," said Cherokee Nation Attorney General Chad Harsha.

Cherokee Nation District Judge T. Luke Barteaux said that the new justice center will have three fully functioning courtrooms, including one ceremonial Supreme Court courtroom that will double as a district court courtroom when the Supreme Court is not in session.

"This is more than just a larger building. This justice center represents the continued growth of Cherokee self-governance and the nation's commitment to providing fair, timely, and accessible justice. The construction of this justice center is asignificant step in the years following the McGirt decision. As the Cherokee Nation continues to grow, so has the need for a courthouse that can meet the demands of serving Cherokee citizens and administering justice efficiently," said Barteaux.

The construction of the justice center will use funds from the $80 million trust settlement from the 2016 lawsuit that alleged the U.S. federal government mismanaged the tribe's trust resources when federal policy suppressed the tribe's ability to self-govern.

In 2020, the Cherokee Nation passed the Cherokee Nation Reservation, Judicial Expansion, and Sovereignty Protection Act, which expanded the tribe's judiciary prosecution staff and Marshal Service. In 2025, Chief Hoskin and Deputy Chief Warner signed legislation that set aside the trust settlement funds for the new justice center in Tahlequah.

The tribe also plans to build a courthouse in Catoosa also using some of the trust settlement and other funds.