Oklahoma tribes seek to keep water use case in federal court

Wednesday, February 15, 2012  

The Choctaw Nation and the Chickasaw Nation say their water lawsuit should stay in federal court.

Citing treaties, the tribes claim ownership of Sardis Lake. The state is asking the Oklahoma Supreme Court to being a stream adjudication process, which the tribes oppose.

“Oklahoma's stream adjudication statutes do not satisfy federal standards or otherwise reach the relevant questions presented in the nations' lawsuit," the tribes said in a motion for partial summary judgement, The Oklahoman reported.

The state also has asked tribes to dismiss their case without prejudice but the tribes won't agree.

Get the Story:
Two tribes in Oklahoma ask for judgment in water rights suit (The Oklahoman 2/15)

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