Chief: The Choctaw Nation, tribal governments will enforce the law
Recently, you may have heard false claims that the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and other tribes believe our members are not subject to the same laws as other Oklahomans.
This is simply not true.
Although the U.S. Supreme Court’s McGirt decision led to some new understandings after it clarified the status of tribal reservations, nobody is exempt from local, state or federal laws.
In fact, since that ruling — and other decisions which have added more clarity to Indian law — the Choctaw Nation and other tribes have greatly expanded our law enforcement capabilities.
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The Choctaw Nation’s court system has seen more than 3,500 felony and misdemeanor cases since 2020. That’s a much heavier lift than in the past, so we have expanded our staff by more than 150 people, including two new judges, dozens of police officers and investigators, and seven new prosecutors. Because fairness is a critical portion of any judicial system, we also have created a public defenders’ office.
Our justice system does not operate in a vacuum. The Choctaw Nation has 77 agreements with other law enforcement agencies, and we meet regularly to make sure our goals and tactics are aligned.
For some cases, the ties go deeper. For example, when a Native American person is convicted in our courts — which has happened more than 2,200 times since 2020 — part of the fine often goes back to the city or town that issued the citation. We also reimburse for mileage and time spent testifying in our courts.
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In other words, our police officers and our judicial system work hand in hand with other governments to ensure Oklahoma remains safe and secure for all citizens, and that anyone who breaks the law is subject to a penalty.
Tribal sovereignty is complex, but it is extremely important. And Oklahoma’s tribes have demonstrated something over many years: We are willing, active and valuable partners for federal, state and local law enforcement. We share values regarding protecting our communities and treating all people with fairness.
No matter what any court decides, the Choctaw Nation is committed to supporting and defending law enforcement, and we are committed to using the proper systems to dispense justice.
Gary Batton is the chief of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma will enforce the law, chief says
