The Southwest Intertribal Court of Appeals (SWITCA)

About SWITCA

The Southwest Intertribal Court of Appeals (SWITCA) is a voluntary court of appeals available to tribes in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and west Texas. It was organized in 1989 by a group of tribal judges with a vision of the Court one day becoming a major institution serving tribal justice systems in ways determined by the tribes themselves.

In addition to its function as an appellate court, SWITCA provides a variety of support services to tribal courts, such as periodic training, research assistance, court evaluations, and code drafting for member tribes.

Appellate services are available without cost to member tribes. Limited travel funds are available to judges, and occasionally, to tribal court administrators or clerks, to assist them in attending SWITCA trainings and meetings. However, as the number of participating tribes increases and the demand for appellate assistance and travel funding grows, tribes may be asked to supplement part of the cost for appellate services and provide travel funds to attend training and meetings. Of course, if this happens, tribes will be notified in advance.

Appellate services are limited to the member tribes who have adopted formal resolutions, but other tribes regularly send tribal court representatives to meetings. In addition, SWITCA provides research assistance on a limited basis to all tribal courts.