The thesis analyzes the judicial system of the Karen at Mae Hor Village. In the past, the village had a traditional society and village leaders were composed of a village chief and a village elder. The chief had power over village issues with the elder as a consultant, shaman and conductor of rituals. The villagers were animists and acceptable behavior was based on acceptable animistic beliefs. These beliefs were their social norms that define social behavior. Changes in education, religion, the economy, the administration, and communications have lessened the importance of their animistic beliefs. Village chiefs are appointed by the Thai state and the villagers have to abide by the Thai legal system. As a consequence, the village’s judicial system is a combination of the Thai and the ethnic judicial systems.