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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2003

Tribal sovereignty is not "absolute," The Sioux Falls Argus Leader says in an editorial today.

The paper says the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe is jeopardizing the criminal justice system by not allowing the state to serve subpoenas on the reservation. The state wants tribal members to appear before a grand jury in a voter fraud case but the tribe says the state lacks jurisdiction.

"We respect tribal sovereignty. But it never has been absolute," the paper says. "We've been working at determining the limits for the last 100 years or so. In this case, it has to tip toward the state of South Dakota."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Tribe puts justice at risk (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 2/13)

Relevant Documents:
Long Letter to Crow Creek Judge (January 23, 2003) | Crow Creek Tribal Council Vote on Subpoenas (January 28, 2003) | A Subpoena to Tribal Member (January 28, 2003) | Transcript Involving Crow Creek Judge (January 28, 2003) Complaint Against Crow Creek Tribe (January 31, 2003) | Long Affidavit (January 31, 2003) | Long Press Release on Red Earth-Villeda (February 11, 2003)

Relevant Links:
S.D. Attorney General - http://www.state.sd.us/attorney

Related Stories:
Voter fraud charges put on hold (2/12)
S.D. tribe won't force members to testify (02/07)
S.D. Sioux tribe fights state subpoenas (2/4)
Supreme Court work at issue as judge debated (01/30)
State power over tribal government in dispute (12/03)
Indian votes helped Johnson (11/7)
Sioux tribal members file voting rights suit (08/06)