U.S. Supreme Court Rules That Half Of The State Of Oklahoma Is A Native Reservation Including The Major City Of Tulsa

USA Today: Supreme Court gives Native Americans jurisdiction over eastern half of Oklahoma

WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the eastern half of Oklahoma can be considered Native American territory, a decision the state previously warned could create "civil, criminal and regulatory turmoil."

The 5-4 decision was written by Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch and joined by the court's four liberal justices. The justices were considering the issue for the second time after failing to decide a different case last year, when Gorsuch was recused and the court likely deadlocked.

The case concerned an appeal from Jimcy McGirt, a Native American, who claimed his state rape conviction from 1997 should be overturned because Oklahoma lacked jurisdiction. Congress, his lawyer Ian Gershengorn said, never properly terminated the reservation.

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WNU Editor: This case revolves around the conviction of a native American who was convicted for sexual assault of a four year old over 20 years ago. His lawyers contested that the state did not have the jurisdiction to try and convict him. Unfortunately, this ruling has now created a massive criminal and regulatory mess in the state of Oklahoma.

More News On The U.S. Supreme Court Ruling That Half Of The State Of Oklahoma Is A Native Reservation Including The Major City Of Tulsa

Justices rule swath of Oklahoma remains tribal reservation -- AP
U.S. Supreme Court deems half of Oklahoma a Native American reservation -- Reuters
Supreme Court says eastern half of Oklahoma is Native American land -- CNBC
Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Oklahoma Indian Claim -- NYT