Tribal jurisdiction is again before the Supreme Court. Following November 2018 arguments, Chief Justice John Roberts first requested additional briefing and then announced new arguments would occur in Sharp v. Murphy. Instead, the Court granted certiorari in McGirt v. Oklahoma, and Justice Gorsuch, who had recused himself from the earlier case, will participate. Jimcy McGirt sought post-conviction relief of his rape, molestation, and sodomy convictions, citing Murphy, and arguing his crimes occurred in Indian Country and thus were subject to the Indian Major Crimes Act. If that law applies, Mr. McGirt’s crimes should have been prosecuted in federal court, rather than state court. The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals rejected his request for relief. Because tribal jurisdiction related to criminal, civil, and regulatory matters generally flow together under Alaska v. Native Village of Venetie Tribal Government 522 U.S. 520 (1998), some legal analysts view this case as representative of a much larger matter than simply prosecuting criminals in the proper court.

Join us for a Courthouse Steps Teleforum for reaction to the McGirt argument. The panel will feature Andy Lester and A.J. Ferate, with the Oklahoma City office of Spencer Fane, and University of Oklahoma W. DeVier Pierson Professor of Law Taiawagi “Tai” Helton.

Featuring:
-- A.J. Ferate, Of Counsel, Spencer Fane LLP
-- Andy Lester, Partner, Spencer Fane LLP
-- Prof. Taiawagi “Tai” Helton, W. DeVier Pierson Professor of Law, University of Oklahoma College of Law