Understanding the Impact of the McGirt Case on Oklahoma Law
My name is Ted Hasse. I’m a Muscogee Nation tribal court attorney practicing in federal and tribal courts here in Oklahoma. Now that we’re in 2025, it’s a good time to look back at the original McGirt case and what has happened to the man behind it, Jimcy McGirt.
The Supreme Court’s July 2020 decision in McGirt v. United States reclassified much of eastern Oklahoma as tribal land, affirming the reservations of several tribal nations. That case changed the legal landscape here, but it’s worth remembering that McGirt was simply the case that made it to the Supreme Court—if not his, it would have been another.
The Legal Proceedings and Sentences of Jimcy McGirt
So what happened to Jimcy McGirt himself? He had originally been convicted in Oklahoma state court of sexually abusing children and was serving a life sentence. Once the Supreme Court ruled that the state lacked jurisdiction, he was retried by the federal government. He ultimately entered into a plea agreement for about a 30-year sentence. But because he had already served that much time, he was released.
Not long after, troubling reports surfaced that McGirt had been seen approaching children in the Seminole Nation—his own tribe. Understandably, that alarmed the community. In October, he was brought before a federal judge, who sentenced him to an additional five years. Of that, he’s serving six months in custody, with the expectation that he’ll be released again in late February 2025. After that, he’ll remain on supervised release for roughly four and a half years, with strict conditions.
Monitoring and Public Safety Measures Post-Release
Those conditions include GPS ankle monitoring and other intensive oversight. U.S. Probation and Parole has significant resources to track high-risk offenders, and the expectation is that they will monitor McGirt closely to protect public safety. At the time of this recording, he remains in custody in Seminole County and will not be released until February.
It’s fair to say that McGirt is a hardened criminal and has shown a likelihood to re-offend. That said, this case highlights that—contrary to early fears after the 2020 decision—law enforcement and the courts are working hard to ensure that offenders do not “slip through the cracks.” McGirt himself is under tight supervision, and in other cases I’ve seen, criminals transferred from state to federal or tribal jurisdiction continue to face real consequences.
Need Legal Assistance? We’re Here to Help
If you or a loved one are facing criminal charges in federal or tribal court—or if you are a victim seeking representation in those courts—we’d be glad to help. Call Muscogee Nation criminal defense attorney Ted Hasse at 918-932-2800.
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