Tribal, State Leaders Testify Before Congressional Subcommittee On Impact Of Castro-Huerta Ruling

Tribal and state leaders from across the country testified before a congressional subcommittee on Tuesday about the impact of the Supreme Court's ruling on tribal sovereignty.

Wednesday, September 21st 2022, 5:14 am

By: News On 6

Tribal and state leaders from across the country testified before a congressional subcommittee on Tuesday about the impact of the Supreme Court's ruling on tribal sovereignty.

In June of 2022, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Oklahoma vs. Castro-Huerta that both state and federal agencies can prosecute non-native people for crimes that happen on tribal land.

At Tuesday's hearing, several tribal leaders told the subcommittee that the ruling undermines tribal jurisdiction and sovereignty. Many of them praised the court's 2020 McGirt decision, which stopped states from prosecuting Native Americans for crimes against other natives on tribal land.

Cherokee Nation Attorney General Sara Hill says the most troubling part of Castro-Huerta is what it might mean for future cases.

"This departure from well-established law represents a real threat to tribal sovereignty. The court essentially flipped the script on state criminal jurisdiction in Indian country." said Hill.

Rogers County District Attorney Matt Ballard says the Castro-Huerta ruling allows his office to seek justice for Native American victims.

"Who Castro-Huerta has served as a beacon of hope that they might one day get justice," said Ballard. "These are real people in my community. These are my constituents, they are my neghibors, they are my friends, we go to the same church, we send our kids to the same schools."

The U.S. Department of the Interior and the Department of Justice will hold two listening sessions with tribes next week to discuss impact of the ruling.