No. 18-9526October Term 2019Decided Jul 9, 2020
McGirt v. Oklahoma
An enrolled tribal member convicted in Oklahoma argued that the state had no power to prosecute him because his crimes occurred within the historic Muscogee (Creek) Reservation, where the federal government has exclusive authority over certain major crimes involving Native Americans.
Case status
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Jul 9, 2020
- What it's about
An enrolled tribal member convicted in Oklahoma argued that the state had no power to prosecute him because his crimes occurred within the historic Muscogee (Creek) Reservation, where the federal government has exclusive authority over certain major crimes involving Native Americans. The case turned on whether that reservation still legally exists as "Indian country" under federal law.
Question presented
WHETHER OKLAHOMA COURTS CAN CONTINUE TO UNLAWFULLY EXERCISE, UNDER STATE LAW, CRIMINAL JURISDICTION AS"JUSTICIABLE MATTER" IN INDIAN COUNTRY OVER INDIANS ACCUSED OF MAJOR CRIMES ENUMERATED UNDER THE INDIAN MAJOR CRIMES ACT-WHICH ARE UNDER EXCLUSIVE FEDERAL JURISDICTION?
- Case path
Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma / Decision released Jul 9, 2020
- Area
Decided Supreme Court case
Timing
Decided July 9, 2020
The Court released its decision on July 9, 2020 without hearing oral argument.
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 3, 2026
- Method
- Methodology