McGirt v. Oklahoma

The Supreme Court said Oklahoma could not prosecute an enrolled tribal member for a major crime committed on land reserved for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. For Major Crimes Act purposes, that land remains "Indian country."

The case was argued on May 11, 2020, and decided on July 9, 2020, but the prompt does not provide the vote count or opinion lineup.

The decision changed who can bring certain criminal cases in much of eastern Oklahoma. For example, an enrolled tribal member accused of a major crime there may have to be prosecuted by federal authorities, not the state.

The Supreme Court has finished this case. Oklahoma, federal prosecutors, and tribal governments had to apply the ruling when deciding who can prosecute affected crimes in the area.

The case asked whether the Muscogee (Creek) Reservation still legally exists as "Indian country." If it does, Oklahoma cannot prosecute certain major crimes by Native Americans there.

Native American defendants, crime victims, and prosecutors in eastern Oklahoma were directly affected. Some major-crime cases must go to federal court instead of state court.

The Supreme Court's review ended with this decision. Lower courts and prosecutors then had to apply the ruling to affected cases in eastern Oklahoma.