Aftermath of the McGirt Decision – What You Need to Know


In July 2020, the United States Supreme Court decided that an Indian reservation in Oklahoma was not disestablished at the time of statehood. Shortly thereafter, Oklahoma Courts expanded that decision to include the reservations of five other tribes. The result? Nearly 43% of Oklahoma’s land mass is now considered Indian Country. In this presentation, GableGotwals’s Trent Shores, a former United States Attorney, and Dean Luthey, chair of the Firm’s Native American Law section and a senior trial lawyer, will discuss the impact of the Supreme Court’s McGirt decision on criminal and civil jurisdiction in Eastern Oklahoma. From unique considerations for the energy industry to working with tribal governments, the McGirt decision presents both opportunities and questions for oil and gas entities.