Featured Commentary
Statement of the Michigan State University College of Law Indigenous Law and Policy Center on the Tribal Law and Order Act
Boozhoo!
To the Honorable Troy A. Eid, Chairman of the Indian Law and Order Commission, and Jeff Davis, Executive Director of the Commission, and the rest of Commission members, we offer greetings and a chi-miigwetch for the opportunity to offer our views on the Tribal Law and Order Act (the Act or TLOA), Pub. L. 111-211, Title II, July 29, 2010, 124 Stat. 2263, and the future of Indian country criminal law and jurisdiction.
As you know, Mr. Chairman, our 8th Annual Indigenous Law and Policy Conference, held on October 28-29, 2011 in East Lansing, MI, was titled, "Beyond the Tribal Law and Order Act: Can (Should) Congress Enact an Oliphant Fix?" We invited a wide segment of speakers, including members of the Indian Law and Order Commission, federal government officials, tribal court and elected government officials, and American Indian law scholars to discuss the ongoing issues with the Tribal Law and Order Act and Indian country criminal law and jurisdiction. Much of our commentary here is guided by the knowledgeable, profound, and wise statements and opinions expressed in that conference.