A. No defendant in a criminal proceeding shall be denied the right to counsel. Only in cases of extreme financial hardship where the defendant is unable to pay counsel and where imprisonment is being sought as a punishment shall the Court appoint defense counsel to be paid from the Court’s budget for a defendant.

B. All professional attorneys must be admitted to the Osage Nation Bar Association prior to appearing before any Court of the Osage Nation or within a reasonable amount of time as determined by the presiding Judge or Justice after the attorney’s first appearance.

C. Lay counselors not admitted to any state bar association, and therefore not eligible to be admitted to the Osage Nation Bar Association, are prohibited from appearing before the Courts to represent a party.

D. Any party to a civil or criminal proceeding may appear pro se, but must expressly state a desire to appear without counsel in criminal cases where incarceration is sought by the Osage Nation. ONCA 11-41, eff. Apr. 12, 2011.