Governor Stitt Hopes Supreme Court Ruling On Tribal Jurisdiction Can Be Overturned

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt said the Supreme Court ruling on tribal jurisdiction is the biggest issue to ever hit the state and said he believes the state can take the case back to the supreme court in hopes that the ruling will be overturned or amended.

Governor Stitt has been meeting with district attorneys and sheriffs across the state to hear what they are experiencing since the Supreme Court ruled Oklahoma does not have the jurisdiction to prosecute crimes involving Native Americans that happened on tribal land. Those cases must not be handled in tribal or federal court.

The governor said it is making counites less safe and could eventually hurt the state's economy.

"My big fear for the sake of Oklahoma's future is if it goes into taxation or it bleeds into regulation, then the state of Oklahoma doesn't have any rights in eastern Oklahoma," said Governor Stitt.

The Governor also called the ruling tragic for victims of crimes, because they will have to go through the prosecution process again. He said there should be one set of laws for Oklahomans.

Governor Stitt has not spoken with Lighthorse Police about the impacts tribal officers are seeing, but said his attorney is negotiating with the tribes and discussions are going through the chiefs.