Tribal leaders, key members of Congress and a prime Biden administration official stated Tuesday that laws could also be essential to make clear state, tribal and federal jurisdiction on Indian reservations within the wake of a latest U.S. Supreme Courtroom determination in an Oklahoma case.
Bryan Newland, the assistant secretary for Indian Affairs on the Inside Division, stated tribes across the nation have expressed confusion and considerations about conflicts over jurisdiction for the reason that excessive courtroom’s ruling in June that the state of Oklahoma can prosecute non-Native People accused of crimes in opposition to Native People on tribal reservations.
The Inside and Justice departments have scheduled listening classes with tribal leaders subsequent week about how to reply to the choice within the Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta case, he stated.
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“Earlier than I’m going as far as to suggest a path ahead, I need to be sure that we get suggestions from Indian nation,” Newland stated.
Congress has acted persistently for years to make clear and strengthen tribal jurisdiction inside reservation boundaries, he stated. It will be consistent with that pattern for Congress to make sure tribes have the facility to offer consent when different governments act inside these boundaries, Newland stated.
Newland’s remarks got here at a listening to of the Home Pure Assets subcommittee on Indigenous Peoples of the US. The listening to targeted on the implications of the Castro-Huerta determination, which was a victory for the Oklahoma legal professional normal’s workplace however thought of a blow to tribal sovereignty and a significant step again from the excessive courtroom’s determination simply two years earlier in McGirt v. Oklahoma.
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Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, D-New Mexico, the chair of the subcommittee, stated the Castro-Huerta determination upended generations of Native American legislation and “understandably despatched shockwaves throughout Indian nation and within the authorized group, which understood its potential huge implications.”
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Fernandez stated she was not able to advocate for a selected legislative proposal earlier than studying extra in regards to the numerous impacts, together with, probably, in civil issues.
Rep. Jay Obernolte, of California, the highest Republican on the subcommittee, stated the authorized chaos created by the choices in McGirt v. Oklahoma and within the Castro-Huerta case was the results of Congress’ failure to state its intentions clearly.
“I’m hopeful that this could maybe catalyze Congress to be express of what its intentions are in the direction of the prosecution of crimes in Indian nation and express about what the boundaries of reservations are, which might have prevented the chaos of McGirt,” he stated.
The Supreme Courtroom dominated in 2020, within the McGirt case, that Congress had by no means explicitly disestablished the Muscogee (Creek) reservation earlier than Oklahoma turned a state in 1907. Due to that, the courtroom stated, convicted little one rapist Jimcy McGirt was wrongly tried in state courtroom as a result of he’s Native American and the crimes occurred on the reservation.
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The Oklahoma Courtroom of Felony Appeals prolonged the McGirt determination to the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Quapaw and Seminole reservations, shifting felony jurisdiction to the federal authorities and tribal courts in all circumstances involving Native People in most of japanese Oklahoma.
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The state contended within the case of Victor Manuel Castro-Huerta, a Mexican nationwide convicted of kid neglect in opposition to a Native American inside the Cherokee reservation, that it shared jurisdiction with the federal authorities in felony circumstances on reservations when the accused will not be Native American.
The Supreme Courtroom agreed, ruling that Congress by no means explicitly barred states from exercising felony jurisdiction in such circumstances.
Mithun Mansinghani, the previous solicitor normal of Oklahoma, who led the state’s effort within the Castro-Huerta case, testified Tuesday that the Supreme Courtroom’s ruling “is, before everything, a ruling about state sovereignty. It says that state borders matter and that state sovereignty issues.”
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Mansinghani, now in non-public observe in Oklahoma Metropolis, stated the ruling didn’t have an effect on tribal jurisdiction and as a substitute provided twin safety to Native People who’re victims of crimes by non-Native People as a result of, now, the state and federal governments can prosecute these crimes.
Tribal leaders, district legal professional disagree on what ought to occur post-Castro-Huerta
Tribal courts typically can’t prosecute non-Native People, aside from offenses specified within the Violence Towards Girls Act. Additionally, jail sentences meted out in tribal courts can’t exceed three years, so essentially the most extreme crimes dedicated on reservations are dealt with by U.S. attorneys.
Sara Hill, legal professional normal for the Cherokee Nation, stated the Castro-Huerta determination didn’t have an effect on tribal jurisdiction. However she testified that it represents an actual menace to tribal sovereignty.
Cherokee Nation Lawyer Common Sara Hill
“The Courtroom flipped the script on state jurisdiction in Indian nation,” Hill stated. “Not did states lack jurisdiction until Congress licensed it. Now, states have jurisdiction until Congress has particularly preempted it.
“And the listing of issues and sources of federal legislation that fail to preempt state legislation is awfully lengthy, in accordance with the Castro-Huerta majority. Nothing preempts state jurisdiction: not the clear language from the Common Crimes Act, not Public Legislation 280, ‘no precept of tribal self-government,’ not one of the treaties between the Cherokee Nation and the US, and never the Oklahoma Enabling Act.”
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Nonetheless, Hill stated it will be vital to maneuver cautiously and be aware of what authorized challenges may very well be introduced in opposition to any laws supposed to handle the Castro-Huerta determination.
Jonodev Chaudhuri, ambassador of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, disagreed. He advised the subcommittee that fast motion needs to be taken.
“The answer to the issues created by Castro-Huerta is to not research an issue we already perceive,” he stated. “It isn’t one other fee. The answer is restoration of tribal jurisdiction and authority, full cease.”
Leaders of tribes in South Dakota, Massachusetts, Michigan and Washington additionally testified that Congress ought to take fast motion to handle the Castro-Huerta determination.
“Congress should acknowledge the Courtroom’s failure in Castro-Huerta and reply swiftly and conclusively, because it has the authority to safeguard in opposition to the extreme injustices and destructive ramifications created by this determination and the mountains of hardship and litigation that it’s going to trigger,” Kevin Killer, president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe in South Dakota, stated in written testimony.
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Matt Ballard, district legal professional for Craig, Mayes and Rogers counties, in japanese Oklahoma, provided a contrasting view. He testified Tuesday that a whole bunch of circumstances had been dismissed in his area after the McGirt determination in 2020 because the state misplaced jurisdiction over crimes involving Native People.
Ballard recounted circumstances that he stated had been examples of Native American victims denied justice in Oklahoma due to the McGirt determination. One such sufferer known as him the day the Castro-Huerta determination was launched and requested if her case may very well be refiled. He advised her it might, he stated, and he refiled the case.
Ballard stated he was grateful to testify “to present voice at this time to the Native American victims who’ve been given hope” on account of the Castro-Huerta determination.
This text initially appeared on Oklahoman: Tribes urge Congress to reverse Castro-Huerta ruling for Oklahoma
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Raegan Beers scored 16 points before suffering a left shoulder injury in the third quarter, and No. 10 Oklahoma rolled past Texas A&M 77-62 on Sunday.
Beers, a 6-foot-4 center, was helped off the floor by teammates. She returned to the bench with an ice pack on her shoulder, but did not play again.
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The Sooners (14-3, 2-2 SEC) bounced back from a loss to Mississippi State on Thursday to claim their first home SEC win in their first season in the conference.
Aicha Coulibaly scored 16 points for Texas A&M (8-8, 1-3), which shot 26.9%.
It was the second straight blowout loss for the Aggies, who dropped a 90-49 decision to No. 2 South Carolina on Thursday.
Oklahoma made 9 of 14 field goals in the first quarter and Beers scored 10 points in the period as the Sooners took a 27-10 lead.
The Sooners led 44-23 at halftime after holding the Aggies to 18.9% shooting. Beers scored 16 points and made 10 of 11 free throws before the break.
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Takeaways
Texas A&M: The Aggies tried to rally in the third, but were too far behind to take advantage of Beers’ absence. The Aggies trailed 59-38 when Beers was hurt, and outscored the Sooners 24-18 the rest of the way.
Oklahoma: It wasn’t the cleanest game for the Sooners. They made 8 of 33 3-pointers and committed 19 turnovers. They’ll need to improve those areas against better opponents.
Key moment
Oklahoma, already leading by 17 heading into the second quarter, held the Aggies to one field goal in the first five minutes of the second to resume its defensive dominance.
Key stat
Texas A&M made 3 of 19 3-pointers.
Up next
Texas A&M hosts Georgia and Oklahoma hosts Missouri, both on Thursday.
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When Ben Arbuckle stepped foot on campus at Canadian High School in 2010, coach Chris Koetting felt like he had a crystal ball.
A freshman quarterback at the time, Arbuckle made an immediate impression on Koetting, who mentally made a bold prediction.
“I knew he was going to do big things in football,” Koetting said.
Fast forward more than a decade, and some might think Koetting is a fortune teller.
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Arbuckle, only 29, has already become a successful coach at the collegiate level. He accepted the offensive coordinator job at Oklahoma in December, following stints at Washington State and Western Kentucky.
Now he’s tasked with breathing new life into an Oklahoma offense that was among the worst in college football in 2024. Those who know him are confident he’ll succeed.
Canadian, TX, located on the far-right end of the Texas Panhandle, has a population of just 2,339 — so just about everybody knows everybody else.
Arbuckle’s high school career made him an even more recognizable name in the small town.
In his final two seasons of high school, Arbuckle passed for 7,500 yards and 95 touchdowns. He led the Wildcats to the UIL 2A state quarterfinals as a senior.
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While most of Arbuckle’s high school highlights are passing-related, it’s where he first dove into instructing others.
Canadian’s backup for Arbuckle’s final two seasons was Tanner Schafer, who later played at OU. After waiting behind Arbuckle and learning from him, Schafer led Canadian to back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2015.
“(Ben) has helped a lot of quarterbacks along the way, not just as a coach,” Koetting said. “He’s special.”
After high school, Arbuckle took two seasons off from playing football before joining West Texas A&M’s program in 2016. Located in Canyon, just outside of Amarillo, Arbuckle continued to learn more about the game on a small scale.
He spent half of the 2016 season as the Buffaloes’ starter, completing 63 percent of his passes for 1,241 yards and 15 touchdowns. Arbuckle didn’t start in 2017, but he was WTAM’s top backup, appearing in 10 games.
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While Arbuckle didn’t break records at West Texas A&M, his time there showed others his work ethic, killer instinct and love for the game — traits that have allowed him to succeed as a college coach.
“I definitely learned about Ben’s competitiveness from my time playing,” said Allen Roberson, who played with Arbuckle at WTAM as a defensive end. “It was always fun competing each day against the offense in practice. As a QB, it’s always important to learn and process quickly. Ben always showed that, along with his enthusiasm and fun spirit every day.”
Arbuckle’s love for the game really shined through at his first collegiate coaching stop.
Immediately after graduating from West Texas A&M, Arbuckle joined the staff at Houston Baptist (now Houston Christian), which competes at the NCAA Division I FCS level.
Arbuckle was an unpaid quality control assistant for the Huskies — and it got his foot in the door to where he wanted to be.
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Koetting guided Arbuckle as he entered the college coaching realm. And it didn’t surprise Arbuckle’s high school coach that he’d be willing to coach for free — or take a second job as a food delivery driver to make ends meet.
“His trail to get to where he’s at right now is kind of crazy,” Koetting said. “His work ethic is something else.”
After that, Arbuckle returned to the Texas Panhandle for one year, serving as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Seminole High School.
Arbuckle then landed his first paid college coaching job at Western Kentucky, where he started as an offensive quality control assistant. He was then promoted to co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Hilltoppers in 2022, helping lead the nation’s No. 1 passing offense (433.7 passing yards per game) with eventual NFL quarterback Bailey Zappe.
That instant success helped Arbuckle land the same job at Washington State.
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The body of work is just three years for Arbuckle-led college football offenses, but he hasn’t missed yet. After heading a successful air-raid system at WKU, he was just as successful in Pullman.
In 2023, Arbuckle worked with Cam Ward — who later transferred to Miami (FL) and was a 2024 Heisman finalist — and produced a passing offense that was fourth nationally with 336.8 yards per game.
A year later, Arbuckle ran an offense with John Mateer, who recently transferred to Oklahoma. The Cougars finished 2024 with 30 passing touchdowns, which was sixth in the nation.
“One of the best offensive minds in the last several decades in college football,” Oklahoma coach Brent Venables said in December. “He has his own report — everything that I continue to look at.”
Now, Arbuckle heads to his biggest program yet — and it’s a full-circle journey for him.
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Canadian is just over three hours away from Norman, and his wife, Lauren, grew up a die-hard OU fan. On their first date, Arbuckle took Lauren to an Oklahoma game.
Game day for those two will look quite different when Arbuckle takes the reins in the fall. But it’s a return to the place that sparked their love for one another and Arbuckle’s love for OU.
“Here we are 12 years later, and we’re very proud to be here,” Arbuckle said on the National Signing Day show on Sooner Sports TV in December. “We’re ready to get this thing rolling.”
In addition to Arbuckle’s short-but-impressive resume and his family ties, his leadership is what those closest to him think will stand out.
Rosemary Koetting, Chris’ wife, described Arbuckle as a “player’s coach” who is kind, intelligent and competitive.
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“He makes everybody feel important,” Rosemary Koetting said. “Kids flock to him.”
Jett Niu, a 3-star quarterback prospect who signed with OU in December after Arbuckle’s hiring, had similar first impressions.
Arbuckle recruited Niu to Washington State early in his recruiting process, but the quarterback prospect ultimately chose to commit to Oklahoma State. But the two kept in touch even after Niu’s OSU commitment, and once Arbuckle landed in Norman, it was a no-brainer for him to flip.
“I love the way that he coaches and talks to his players,” Niu said. “He really just develops them.”
At 29 years old, Arbuckle is just over a decade older than Niu. His new coordinator’s youth — plus his proven track record with Zappe, Ward and Mateer — excites the Sooners’ incoming signal caller.
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“He’s developed multiple quarterbacks that have been successful in college football, and I think I can be one of them,” Niu said. “We’re going to have a great next couple of years.”
Arbuckle’s time in Norman could span more than a decade. It could last only a year. Regardless, Koetting thinks Arbuckle is the right man for the job.
But wherever Arbuckle’s coaching career takes him, Koetting will always see him as the small-town quarterback that he predicted to one day be a star.
“I have coached a lot of great quarterbacks, and he’s been my favorite,” Koetting said. “He’s one of ours. He’s special, and I can tell you that.”
The Texas A&M Aggies (8-7) will try to stop a three-game road skid when taking on the Oklahoma Sooners (13-3) on Sunday, January 12, 2025 at Lloyd Noble Center, airing at 5:00 PM ET on SEC Network.
Texas A&M is coming off of a 90-49 loss to South Carolina in its last game on Thursday.
Prepare for this matchup with everything you need to know about Sunday’s college hoops action.
Check out: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll
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Oklahoma vs. Texas A&M: How to watch on TV or live stream
Watch women’s college basketball on Fubo!
Texas A&M scoring
The Sooners put up 24.5 more points than the Aggies allow (64.8).
Oklahoma is 13-3 when scoring more than 64.8 points.
Oklahoma is 8-7 versus the spread and 13-3 overall when scoring more than 64.8.
Texas A&M is 2-3 versus the spread and has an 8-5 record overall when conceding fewer than 89.3 points.
Oklahoma vs. Texas A&M computer pick
Prediction: Oklahoma 81, Texas A&M 62
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