Copyright © 2005 NLThomas
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News from the Cherokee Nation, OK
Copyright © 2005 CNO
TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA – Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith has nominated Diane Hammons as General Counsel of the Cherokee Nation.
Diane Hammons, of Tahlequah, has been nominated by Principal Chief Chad Smith as Cherokee Nation General Counsel. 
“Diane has clearly demonstrated her strengths as an attorney, as well as her dedication to the welfare of Cherokee Nation and its citizens,” said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation.
The Cherokee Nation General Counsel represents the tribe in all disputes, and provides legal assistance and advice to the departments within the Cherokee Nation. The General Counsel’s office also provides legal support and advice to all the Cherokee Nation’s business entities.
Hammons currently resides in Tahlequah and has been the Director of the Cherokee Nation’s Department of Justice since 2001. The Justice Department is responsible for the prosecution of all criminal and juvenile actions in the Cherokee tribal court system. As the tribe’s Director of Justice, Hammons was solely responsible for defending the tribe in federal administrative appeals, two of which resulted in a savings to the Cherokee Nation of more than $1 million.
Hammons’ previous experience includes six years as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Oklahoma and an associate attorney for Steward and Culbert law firm in Oklahoma City. During this time, Hammons received experience with various Native American issues, including cross-deputization agreements between tribal, state and federal governments and jurisdiction issues. A seasoned courtroom attorney, Hammons argued, and won, the Romano v. Oklahoma case before the United States Supreme Court in 1994.
Hammons was born in Miami, Oklahoma, and graduated valedictorian from Quapaw High School. After high school, she attended Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in Miami before going on to receive her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Oklahoma. Hammons’ earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 1984. Hammons is the recipient of the Cherokee Patriot Award in 2003 and was named Outstanding Appellate Advocate by the Association of Government Attorneys in Capital Litigation in 1995.
The General Counsel position became vacant last June after the death of Cherokee Nation General Counsel Julian Fite. Hammons worked alongside Fite for the Cherokee Nation for many years.
The Office of General Counsel is a member of the cabinet and authorized in article VIII of the constitution of the Cherokee Nation. According to the Constitution, the General Counsel is appointed by the Principal Chief and approved by the Tribal Council of the Cherokee Nation.
| Related Cherokee Nation contact information: |
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Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org
Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager |
Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org
Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation |