Oklahoma appellate court next for Osage Nation case

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Questions over whether the Osage Nation reservation in northern Oklahoma still exists will next be answered by the state’s Court of Criminal Appeals.

Osage County District Judge Stuart Tate ruled last week in a criminal case involving a Native American defendant that the Osage Nation reservation was disestablished by Congress and that the state therefore retains criminal jurisdiction there.

But Tate on Thursday agreed to stay proceedings in the case until the matter of the Osage Nation reservation and criminal jurisdiction can be resolved.

Doug Dry, a lawyer for the defendant in the case, told reporters he plans to file an appeal with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals within 30 days.