Tribal Court

An Overview of McGirt vs Oklahoma

In this blog post, Ted Hasse, a Muscogee tribal court attorney, provides an overview of the ongoing legal battle surrounding McGirt vs Oklahoma. The McGirt ruling established that certain Indian reservations, including the Muscogee Creek Nation, had not been disestablished in eastern Oklahoma. As a result, criminal jurisdiction issues have changed for Native Americans and crimes involving Native American victims. Hasse discusses a recent development where the U.S. Supreme Court has granted cert to hear a case called Castro Huerta. This case could potentially allow the state of Oklahoma to prosecute non-Native Americans who commit crimes against Native Americans, restoring some aspects of the pre-McGirt situation. Hasse emphasizes the importance of seeking legal counsel if facing a federal criminal investigation or indictment. Read more »