Oklahoma DAs seek dismissal of tribal jurisdiction lawsuit
March 4, 2025
Two Oklahoma district attorneys, Matthew Ballard and Carol Iski, have filed motions to dismiss a federal lawsuit challenging their authority to prosecute Native Americans on tribal lands. The U.S. Department of Justice filed the lawsuit, citing the McGirt ruling, but the prosecutors argue the case should be handled at the state level. The dispute centers on the jurisdiction of state courts to prosecute crimes on reservation lands. The federal government contends these cases violate tribal sovereignty, while the prosecutors emphasize ongoing state court proceedings.
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