The Navajo Nation is "ready to prosecute" activist Russell Means, the tribe's top prosecutor said.

Means faces misdemeanor charges for allegedly beating and threatening his then father-in-law on the Navajo Reservation. He claimed that the tribe lacked jurisdiction over him but the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the claim, citing the Duro fix that recognized tribal criminal jurisdiction over "all Indians."

Means plans to ask the full court to rehear the case and he could end up taking the battle to the U.S. Supreme Court, his lawyer said. But his ex-wife said her father and Means now get along and that her father tried to drop the charges.

Get the Story:
Means could face local charges (The Gallup Independent 9/21)

Russell Means Jurisdiction Decision:
Russell Means v. Navajo Nation (August 23, 2005)

US v. Lara Decision:
Syllabus | Opinion [Breyer] | Concurrence [Stevens] | Concurrence [Kennedy | Concurrence [Thomas] | Dissent [Souter]

Relevant Links:
Russell Means - http://www.russellmeans.com
Navajo Nation - http://www.navajo.org

Related Stories:
Appeals court opens Means to tribal prosecution (08/24)
Federal courts try to decide who is legally Indian (08/24)
Means loses lawsuit against Oglala Sioux election (03/09)
Judge denies tribal jurisdiction over Indian descendant (12/08)
Russell Means sues after losing Pine Ridge election (12/03)
Harjo: Pine Ridge election about character (10/29)
Russell Means arrested for missing court date (10/25)
Russell Means top vote-getter in Pine Ridge primary (10/7)
Russell Means not welcome as Republican either (07/30)
Tribal authority over all Indians still unsettled question (06/23)
Russell Means ready to give up on Republican Party (06/03)
Supreme Court affirms tribal powers over all Indians (04/20)
Thune gains endorsement from odd source: Russell Means (02/05)
Supreme Court hears tribal powers case (01/22)
Supreme Court case on jurisdiction attracts attention (01/08)
DOJ's Supreme Court brief backs sovereignty (7/30)
Tribal jurisdiction faces test before Supreme Court (07/03)