Officials in Minnesota may seek agreements with tribes in light of a court ruling that limited state enforcement on reservations.

The Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled that the state can't force tribal members who live on reservations to register with the state's offender system. The decision could be appealed to the state Supreme Court.

John Swimmer, the solicitor general for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, said the ruling was a victory for tribal sovereignty. But he said the tribe, like the state, has an interest in protecting public safety.

Get the Story:
Offender registration examined (The Minneapolis Star Tribune 7/28)
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Court Decision:
Minnesota va. Jones (July 26, 2005)

Related Stories:
Minnesota appeals court limits state jurisdiction (7/27)