Supreme Court Rules Nearly Half of Oklahoma is Indian Reservation

submitted by Vigte from nytimes.com

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[–]magnora7 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

I don't know much about it, but from what I understand the two systems will mesh. Basically if you're native american you live by tribal law rules, but if you're just american then everything carries on as normal. So I think it just frees Native Americans up in that area to live by their own rules.

But there's a lot more details to how it works, I'm sure.

[–]slushpilot 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

You can't have two sets of laws over the same jurisdiction, applied differently to different people... or is this Oklahoma asking us to hold their beer?

If the cowboy shoots an indian, or the indian shoots a cowboy, whose laws apply?

[–][deleted] 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

Basically if you're native american you live by tribal law rules, but if you're just american then everything carries on as normal.

That basically throws out the most basic rule of law, that everyone is equal in the eyes of the law. They've created a privileged class, who may well be able to rape, murder and steal with no consequences.

[–]magnora7 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

who may well be able to rape, murder and steal with no consequences.

Uh, I'm pretty sure the tribal laws also has rules against murder and rape...

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Well this guy raped a 4 year old and took the case to the supreme court in the hopes of better judgement from his tribe, so maybe not.