Second Chances Strengthen Justice in Indian Country

By Courtney R. Jordan | The Journal Record | Reposted by Cherokee 411 | October 3, 2025

Oklahoma’s courts recently gave me a second chance. After a suspension, the Oklahoma Supreme Court reinstated my law license, and the Eastern District of Oklahoma readmitted me to its bar and the Criminal Justice Act panel. These decisions allow me once again to serve clients and tribal governments in both federal and tribal courts. More importantly, they highlight a larger truth: second chances make our institutions stronger, not weaker.

As a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, my return carries meaning beyond one lawyer’s story. The Eastern District of Oklahoma has become the center of modern Indian law in the wake of recent Supreme Court decisions. It is where questions of sovereignty, jurisdiction, and justice are tested daily. With federal, state, and tribal systems overlapping, the district has become a proving ground for how Oklahoma honors both the rule of law and tribal sovereignty.

Representation in these cases matters. Native communities need advocates who understand not only the law but also the lived realities of tribal sovereignty. During my years as an Assistant Attorney General for the Cherokee Nation, a Tribal Liaison and Assistant United States Attorney, and an adjunct professor of Indian law, I learned that justice in Indian Country is best served through cultural understanding, respect for sovereignty, and a commitment to fairness.

My reinstatement allows me to contribute again in that space. I am admitted in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, and several tribal courts—forums where sovereignty is most often tested. This work is both a professional privilege and a matter of public importance, shaping relationships among tribal, state, and federal governments and influencing compacts, cross-deputization agreements, and business partnerships across Oklahoma.

Second chances are not a free pass. They are an investment in people who have shown growth and rehabilitation. Medical treatment and time revealed that my earlier conduct was an aberration, not a pattern, and the courts responded with fairness and wisdom. Their decisions restored not just a career, but also the ability to serve tribal communities and indigent clients who rely on dedicated counsel.

Oklahoma’s justice system—and its economy—grow stronger when they make room for redemption. In Indian Country, restoration has long been a cornerstone of justice. When courts recognize rehabilitation, they affirm that accountability and restoration can coexist. In doing so, they strengthen public trust and create space for deeper partnerships between governments, tribes, and businesses.

Oklahoma stands at the crossroads of tribal sovereignty and state authority. If we want stronger institutions and more resilient communities, we must make space for redemption. Second chances are not simply kindness—they are good governance, sound policy, and the foundation of a justice system worthy of trust.

Originally published by The Journal Record. Reposted with attribution by Cherokee 411.