Section TCT.01.08 — Election Of Chief Judge

(a) Verification of Eligibility.

(1) At least three (3) months prior to an election, any qualified Stockbridge-Munsee tribal member who wishes to appear on the ballot as a candidate for Chief Judge must submit a written request, with all necessary support, to the Judiciary Commission to verify that the candidate satisfies the judicial qualifications outlined in Section TCT.01.06(c).

(2) The Judiciary Commission shall review and investigate the request as necessary to verify the candidate's qualifications. The Judiciary Commission may request additional information from the candidate as appropriate to complete the verification and the candidate must comply with such requests.

(3) The Judiciary Commission shall provide a written response to the candidate on whether or not the candidate meets the judicial qualifications.

(A) If the candidate is determined to not be qualified, then the written response shall specifically identify the qualification that the candidate does not meet.

(B) A copy of this written response will also be provided to the Tribal Secretary, on behalf of the Election Board. The Tribal Secretary shall cause the written response to be provided to the Election Board.

(4) The candidate shall be provided an opportunity for an in-person meeting with the Judiciary Commission to contest any finding that he/she does not meet the qualifications, but the Judiciary Commission's assessment shall be final.

(b) Request to have Name Placed on Ballot. If the Judiciary Commission verifies that a Stockbridge-Munsee tribal member is a qualified to be a candidate for Chief Judge, then that person may submit a written request, along with the verification of qualifications from the Judiciary Commission, to the Tribal Secretary, on behalf of the Election Board, that the person's name be placed on the ballot as a candidate for Chief Judge. The Tribal Secretary shall cause these materials to be provided to the Election Board.

(c) Election. The election of the Chief Judge will be conducted consistent with tribal election laws, policies and procedures, except that candidates for Chief Judge are not nominated at a tribal caucus.

(d) Term. The qualified candidate who receives the most votes in the election will be sworn into office as Chief Judge by the Tribal President for a term of seven (7) years.