FROM THE ARCHIVE
N.M. court upholds tribal court jurisdiction
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THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2003

The New Mexico Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld tribal court jurisdiction over individual Indian allotted lands even if located off reservation.

The court said the Navajo court system has authority on an allotment held in trust by the Department of Interior. The ruling was based on Supreme Court precedents allowing tribal civil jurisdiction on Indian land.

The case involves a Navajo man whose car was repossessed on allotted land.

Get the Story:
Tribal courts ruled to have jurisdiction outside reservation (AP 6/11)

Relevant Links:
New Mexico Supreme Court - http://www.supremecourt.nm.org