Opinion ID: 886571
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Tribal Court Jurisdiction Versus State Court Jurisdiction

Text: ¶ 36 Next, I am disturbed that a case such as this is even being litigated in the state court system. ¶ 37 Tribal court versus federal court versus state court jurisdiction is one of the most challenging Indian law issues facing the courts today. However, one thing is clear: tribal courts have jurisdiction over tribal members conducting business on tribal land with other tribal members. See CONFERENCE OF WESTERN ATTORNEYS GENERAL, AMERICAN INDIAN LAW DESKBOOK, 135-37, n. 82, 90 (1993) (discussing tribal, federal, and state jurisdiction). See also Kennerly v. District Court of Ninth Judicial Dist. (1971), 400 U.S. 423, 429, 91 S.Ct. 480, 483, 27 L.Ed.2d 507, 511 (noting that, absent an act by Congress, a tribe has exclusive jurisdiction over debt collection action arising out of a transaction on the reservation between a non-Indian creditor and an Indian defendant); National Farmers Union Ins. Cos. v. Crow Tribe of Indians (1985), 471 U.S. 845, 855-56, 105 S.Ct. 2447, 2453-54, 85 L.Ed.2d 818 (In civil matters the existence and extent of a tribal court's jurisdiction will require a careful examination of tribal sovereignty, the extent to which that sovereignty has been altered, divested, or diminished, as well as a detailed study of relevant statutes, Executive Branch policy as embodied in treaties and elsewhere, and administrative or judicial decisions.). ¶ 38 Further, we have previously adhered to jurisdictional rules that require this Court to refrain from obstructing tribal court jurisdiction when the exercise of state jurisdiction would interfere with reservation self-government. General Constructors, Inc. v. Chewculator, Inc., 2001 MT 54, ¶¶ 23-25, 304 Mont. 319, ¶¶ 23-25, 21 P.3d 604, ¶¶ 23-25. In addition, we have stated: Absent the clearest evidence of the Tribes' intent to consent to the assertion of authority by state courts onto their sovereign land, the Tribes retain their exclusive jurisdiction. Balyeat Law, P.C. v. Pettit, 1998 MT 252, ¶ 25, 291 Mont. 196, ¶ 25, 967 P.2d 398, ¶ 25. See also Agri West v. Koyama Farms, Inc. (1997), 281 Mont. 167, 173, 933 P.2d 808, 812 (Montana applies the doctrine of abstention, as a matter of comity). ¶ 39 In this case, as already discussed above, the contract itself does not constitute clear evidence of the Tribe's consent to the assertion of authority by Montana's courts. Further, this case falls squarely within tribal court jurisdiction: Bradley is a tribal member, the contract is with the Tribe, and the contract involves business on tribal land with the Tribe itself. In addition, the dispute involves a contract with the Tribe itself regarding a grant from the United States government to facilitate energy development by the Tribe. See Affidavit of Stephen E. Bradley (Sometime in 1985, I proposed to the Crow Tribe that the Crow Tribe ought to construct a power plant which could utilize the abundant coal supply owned by the Crow Tribe on the Crow Reservation.). ¶ 40 I cannot imagine a more straightforward issue of tribal self government. Therefore, again, I would affirm the District Court and allow resolution of this matter to be handled where resolution is most appropriate: in the Crow Tribal Court.