memecucker:

States can prosecute non-tribal members who commit crimes on Native American reservations, Supreme Court says

The Supreme Court said on Wednesday that states have the authority to prosecute non-tribal members who commit crimes against Native American

MSN

The Supreme Court said on Wednesday that states have the authority to prosecute non-tribal members who commit crimes against Native Americans on Indian territory.

The ruling limits a major tribal ruling issued by the Supreme Court in 2020 and cuts back on tribal sovereignty.

Oklahoma Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt praised the court’s opinion, calling it a “pivotal moment” in a statement.

Stitt has been fighting for state sovereignty on the issue and had expressed fear that if his side were to lose, it could open an avenue for individuals to gain access to abortion on tribal lands, as a way of sidestepping the state’s strict abortion rules.

“We think that there’s a possibility that some tribes may try to set up abortion on demand,” he said in an interview with KTUL before the opinion came down. “They think that you could be 1/1000 tribal member and not have to follow the state law. And so that’s something that we’re watching.”