Criminal

Crow Citizen Sues BIA Cops for Trespass, False Imprisonment, Etc. under Bad Men Clause/FTCA

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here is the complaint in Siemion v. United States (D. Mont.):

1 ComplaintDownload

United States v. Hopson Cert Petition

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here:

US Cert PetitionDownload

Question presented:

Whether respondents—Indians charged with felony assault in Indian country under the Major Crimes Act in violation of 18 U.S.C. 113(a)(6) and (8) and 1153(a)— were entitled both to a jury instruction on a lesser included offense not listed in the Major Crimes Act and complete acquittal if the jury found them guilty of that lesser offense.

Lower court materials here.

Eleventh Circuit Rejects Claim that Federal Criminal Statutes of General Applicability Do Not Apply to Indians in Indian Country

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here are the materials in United States v. Brice:

CA11 Opinion

Opening Brief

Brief of the United States

Reply

California Federal Court Allows Round Valley to Sue Mendocino County + Sheriff over Weed Raids

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here are the materials in Round Valley Indian Tribes v. Kendall (N.D. Cal.):

35 First Amended Complaint.pdfDownload
40 Kendall Motion to Dismiss.pdfDownload
46 State Motion to Dismiss.pdfDownload
48 Opposition to 40.pdfDownload
53 Reply ISO 40.pdfDownload
56 Opposition to 46.pdfDownload
60 Reply ISO 46.pdfDownload
64 DCT Order.pdfDownload

Prior post here.

Update (2/25/26):

71 Second Amended Complaint.pdfDownload

Tenth Circuit Affirms Life Sentence for Murphy

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here is the opinion in United States v. Murphy.

The defendant was the subject of Sharp v. Murphy, the predecessor case to McGirt v. Oklahoma.

How many agree? “Supreme Court Bad.”

Oklahoma Federal Court Denies Local Prosecutors’ Efforts to Dismiss Federal/Tribal Challenge to Indian Country Criminal Jurisdiction

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here are the materials in United States v. Ballard (N.D. Okla.):

52 Ballard Motion to Dismiss.pdfDownload
68 Ballard Motion to Dismiss MCN Complaint.pdfDownload
77 MCN Response.pdfDownload
78 Cherokee Chickasaw Choctaw Complaint.pdfDownload
85 Ballard Reply ISO 52.pdfDownload
88 Ballard Reply ISO 68.pdfDownload
89 Ballard Motion to Dismiss CCC Tribes’ Complaint.pdfDownload
93 CCC Tribes Response.pdfDownload
94 Ballard Reply ISO 89.pdfDownload
118 DCT Order.pdfDownload

And here are the materials in United States v. Iski (N.D. Okla.):

50 Iski Motion to Dismiss.pdfDownload
59 Cherokee Choctaw Response.pdfDownload
60 Federal Response.pdfDownload
66 MCN Response.pdfDownload
72 Iski Reply.pdfDownload
77 Iski Motion to Dismiss Cherokee Choctaw Complaint.pdfDownload
81 Cherokee Choctaw Response.pdfDownload
106 DCT Order.pdfDownload

Prior posts with complaints here and here.

Cherokee, Chickasaw, and Choctaw Also Sue Oklahoma over Hunting and Fishing Rights

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here is the complaint in Cherokee Nation v. Free (N.D. Okla.):

2 Complaint.pdfDownload

Tenth Circuit Reverses Conviction Because Government Did Not Sufficiently Prove Defendant Was Non-Indian

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here is the opinion in United States v. Ruiz.

Briefs:

Opening Brief

Government Brief

Reply

Update:

En banc petition.pdfDownload

Creek Nation Sues Oklahoma over Hunting and Fishing Jurisdiction

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here are materials in Muscogee (Creek) Nation v. Free (N.D. Okla.):

2 Complaint

8 Motion for Preliminary Injunction

Eighth Circuit Moots Challenge to Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction over On-Rez Crimes on Fee Lands

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here is the opinion in LaBatte v. Gangle.

Briefs:

Opening Brief

Answer Brief

Reply