U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Tribe leaders of the Cherokee and Chickasaw Nations want Congress to allow them to make agreements with the state of Oklahoma in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding criminal jurisdictions.
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said the decision which ruled that Oklahoma prosecutors lack the authority to pursue criminal cases against Native American defendants in parts of the state affirmed that the reservations of the Five Tribes were never disestablished. He said Congress should protect that ruling and give tribes and the state the power to enter compacts regarding criminal jurisdiction.
The Cherokee Phoenix Breakdown: Cherokee Freedmen History Project cherokeephoenix.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from cherokeephoenix.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The Cherokee Nation recently voted to update their criminal codes to be more in line with existing Oklahoma laws.
The newly formed Commission for the Protection of Cherokee Nation Sovereignty recommended the changes in the wake of the
McGirt v. Oklahoma Supreme Court decision.
“As we celebrate the
McGirt decision and our sovereignty, we must also remain prepared to continue to protect public safety while addressing new legal challenges. Updating our criminal code will improve law enforcement on our reservation, and ensure that we are ready when criminal cases are dismissed in state courts,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. “We also want to maintain order and consistency and avoid any confusion among the public and law enforcement officers.”
CN takes steps to move forward on McGirt issues claremoreprogress.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from claremoreprogress.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.