Trent Shores Named a Tribal Supreme Court Justice

Congratulations to Shareholder, Trent Shores, who was recently confirmed as a Tribal Supreme Court Justice for the Kaw Nation.

The Kaw Nation is a federally-recognized Indian tribe, organized pursuant to the Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act of 1936, Ch. 831, 49 Stat. 1967, codified in 25 U.S.C. 501 er seq., and operating under a constitution adopted by the Nation and approved by Interior on Aug. 4, 1990. The constitution also provides for a judicial branch, composed of a Supreme Court consisting of three justices, and such inferior courts as may be established by tribal law. The constitution provides that justices of the Kaw Supreme Court and judges of the inferior courts are selected by the Tribal Council and confirmed by the General Council. The Justices and Judges of the Kaw Nation shall serve four (4) year terms beginning at the date of their confirmation in office and until their successor shall be duly confirmed and installed.

Chair Williams stated, “The Kaw Nation is very happy to appoint Trent Shores as a Supreme Court Justice to serve on our court. Mr. Shores experience in different avenues of law, especially Indian Law, was one of the deciding factors in choosing him to sit on the Supreme Court.”

“I am honored to serve as in this role for the Kaw Nation. I will be true to my oath to interpret the law in an impartial, fair, and just manner. I promise to adhere to the rule of law and uphold the highest of ethical and professional standards. The Kaw General Council’s confidence in me to fulfill the duties of a Supreme Court Justice is humbling and appreciated,” said Trent.

In his legal practice, Trent advises clients regarding complex litigation, Native American law and policy, cybersecurity, and high stakes government and corporate investigations. He represents clients in state, federal, and tribal courts at all stages in the litigation process, including at trial and on appeal. He has also testified before the United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and United States Sentencing Commission.

A former United States Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Trent is nationally recognized for his efforts to develop and implement strategic responses to Native American policy. A citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, he served as Chair of the Native American Issues Subcommittee charged with developing and guiding national policy for Indian Country justice and related matters. In that capacity, he established a national initiative to address the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous persons, and led a presidential task force investigating the Indian Health Service.

GableGotwals’ attorneys have successfully represented Native American tribes, their leaders, vendors, and organizations in federal, state, tribal court and before administrative agencies, and have successfully argued on behalf of Indian rights before the United States Supreme Court. The Firm’s Native American practice is ranked Band 2 by Chambers & Partners stating the team is known as a “well-established Oklahoma firm with expertise in all areas of legal disputes” and “…are very professional and care about their client and their results.”