The Southwest Intertribal Court of Appeals (SWITCA)
Who is Eligible to Join?
Federally recognized tribes and pueblos in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and west Texas may elect to join the Court which provides impartial appellate review of lower court decisions. SWITCA's jurisdiction is defined by the participating pueblo and tribal governments.
Each tribe defines SWITCA authority for itself by resolution and may create any one of a variety of uses for the Court including:
- an independent court of last resort which exercises the appellate powers of the tribe;
- an independent appellate court which issues advisory opinions, only; or,
- an independent intermediate appellate court from which any party may appeal to a higher court as defined by the joining tribe.
Joining SWITCA
A tribe may join SWITCA by adopting a resolution by the procedure set up by the individual tribe’s law. Please contact the SWITCA Court’s Administrator for additional information about the procedure to join.
