For non-Native Americans to receive a fair trial in tribal courts, defendants must face a jury of their peers. For that to happen, the United States government must provide the muscle behind a tribal jury summons. The Violence Against Women Act recently expanded tribal authority to try non-Natives in tribal courts in domestic violence cases. Most non-Natives are going to have a problem with that. They may not recognize tribal authority unless they can clearly tell the U.S. government will provide the hammer if tribes are ignored. For non-Natives to receive a fair trial, the federal government must first provide the teeth to tribal authority.Get the Story:
Editorial: Feds must provide bite to tribal bark (The Muskogee Phoenix 4/24)
Join the Conversation