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Posted: May 10, 2020

The U.S. Supreme Court. Photo by Indianz.Com (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in McGirt v. Oklahoma at 10am Eastern on May 11, 2020.

The argument will take place by teleconference, as the nation’s highest court is closed amid the COVID-19 pandemic. C-SPAN will carry the audio live on its website.

The proceeding is scheduled to last an hour. At issue is whether the state of Oklahoma can exercise jurisdiction over crime committed by Indian people within the boundaries of the reservation promised to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation by treaty.

Attorney Ian Heath Gershengorn will argue for Jimcy McGirt, a citizen of the Seminole Nation who is serving an extremely lengthy sentence in Oklahoma for crimes against minors. His slot lasts 15 minutes, according to the Supreme Court’s Day Call.

Attorney Riyaz Kanji will argue on behalf of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, in support of McGirt’s position. He also has 15 minutes.

Mithun Mansinghani, the Solicitor General for Oklahoma, will defend the state’s prosecution. He has 15 minutes to argue that the Creek Reservation was diminished.

Finally, Edwin Kneedler, the Deputy Solicitor General of the U.S. Department of Justice, will have 15 minutes. The Trump administration is supporting the state of Oklahoma in the case.

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