Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs of Oregon

Oregon Supreme Court Holds Assault on Tribal Police Officer is Crime under State Law

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here is the opinion in State v. Kurtz. The tribal amicus brief is here: Kurtz Amicus Brief (final as filed)

From the court’s press release:

Today, in a criminal case involving tribal police officers in Oregon and their status under state law, the Oregon Supreme Court held that, with regard to the crimes of attempting to elude a police officer, ORS 811.540, and resisting arrest by a peace officer, ORS 162.315, the legislature intended the statutory terms “police officer” and “peace officer” to include members of tribal law enforcement departments.

WSJ on Off-Reservation Gaming

Matthew L.M. Fletcher1 Comment

From the WSJ:

The Obama administration may make it easier for Indian tribes to build casinos on land far from their reservations, a move likely to spur a wave of new casino development.

The Interior Department, which runs the Bureau of Indian Affairs, is reconsidering a Bush administration directive requiring that off-reservation casino sites be within commuting distance of the reservation. Many tribes, struggling with high unemployment and poverty on their reservations, are looking to casinos for jobs and other economic benefits.

Casino Applications

See where tribes have filed applications for off-reservation gaming.

“It’s an important issue. It’s a controversial issue and they’re rethinking it,” George Skibine, a deputy assistant secretary at the bureau, said in an interview last week. He added he expected a decision on whether to change the policy “fairly soon.”

Some governors, including Democrat David Paterson of New York and Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger of California, have come out in favor of certain projects in recent months.

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