FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 23, 2023
CONTACT: Jason Salsman
jsalsman@muscogeenation.com
TULSA, Okla. - The U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals held oral arguments in Justin Hooper v. City of Tulsa earlier today in Denver. The appellant, Justin Hooper, a member of the Choctaw Tribe, received a speeding ticket in 2018 from the City of Tulsa while within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Reservation. He was found guilty and paid the fine, however in 2020, he filed for postconviction relief in the Municipal Criminal Court of the City of Tulsa, claiming that the City of Tulsa did not have jurisdiction over tribal citizens while on the Reservation. His appeal has since been elevated to the 10th Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals where oral arguments were heard today.
Muscogee (Creek) Nation filed an amicus brief with the Court arguing against the City of Tulsa asserting jurisdiction over tribal citizens while within the Nation’s Reservation boundaries. The Nation’s Attorney General, Geri Wisner, was in attendance for the oral arguments before the court today.
Statement from Attorney General Wisner: “The law is clear that the City of Tulsa’s claims have no legal merit. The case is just another novel attempt to undermine the criminal jurisdiction restored to tribes in the historic McGirt case.”
Statement from Principal Chief David Hill: “I’m proud of our legal team today, but it’s frustrating that we keep having to beat back these baseless legal attacks on our jurisdiction. The time, money, and energy that goes into these cases would be much better spent working together to make our communities safer.”
A copy of the full amicus brief filed by Muscogee (Creek) Nation is attached.
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