The South Dakota Supreme Court on Thursday denied tribal jurisdiction in a divorce case from the Lower Brule Sioux Reservation.

The court said the state courts have jurisdiction over the divorce of Jay and Deann Langdeau because Deann is a non-Indian. Jay is a member of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe. The couple lived on the reservation prior to the separation.

The court also said the state courts might have jurisdiction over a child custody dispute between the Langdeaus. A circuit court must weigh this issue before making a ruling since the children lived on the reservation.

The case is Langdeau v. Langdeau.

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Ruling says state court can handle divorce of Indian man (AP 6/13)