Frequently Asked Questions

What does this agreement do and how will this change the current processes?
Since March, the City of Tulsa has already been referring cases involving Indian defendants from municipal court to tribal court. After the agreement is signed, those municipal cases will not be filed in Tulsa Municipal Court in the first place, but will be filed directly with the tribal court for prosecution.

What does this agreement mean from an enforcement perspective?
Nothing will change with regard to law enforcement from citizens’ perspective. The Tulsa Police Department will continue to enforce the law just as before. Rather than filing misdemeanor cases against Indian defendants in municipal court, they will be filed and prosecuted in tribal court.

What are the boundaries of this new agreement?
This agreement applies to municipal cases/interactions that take place in Tulsa city limits within the boundaries of the Muscogee Nation. There are parts of Tulsa (north) where this agreement does not apply due to the boundary lines of the Muscogee Nation. See the boundary lines online.  

I’m Native, does that mean Tulsa Police do not have any authority over me?
No. Tulsa Police officers are fully empowered to enforce the law with regard to native suspects, under the terms of the settlement agreement and under the terms of cross-deputization agreements approved by the State and Federal governments, the Muscogee Nation, and the Cherokee Nation.

Why did the City of Tulsa enter into this agreement?
The City of Tulsa entered into this agreement to resolve federal court litigation filed in 2023 over the City’s jurisdiction to prosecute Indian defendants for conduct occurring on the Muscogee Reservation. Rather than fighting over jurisdiction, we are choosing to work together to achieve our shared public safety goals.

Is the City conceding that it does not have concurrent jurisdiction to prosecute Indian defendants?
No. The City is not conceding in the settlement agreement that it does not have jurisdiction. Rather, the City is agreeing not to prosecute Indian defendants for municipal cases in deference to the Muscogee Nation’s jurisdiction. Several cases are still pending in which the issue of concurrent state/municipal jurisdiction over Indian defendants will be decided. See United States v. Ballard, CIV-4:24-626-CVE-SH (N.D. Okla. filed Dec. 23, 2024) (Consolidated Cases); United States v. Iski, CIV-6:24-493-CVE (E.D. Okla. filed Dec. 23, 2024) (Consolidated Cases); Muscogee (Creek) Nation v. Tulsa County, Case No. 4:25-cv-00075-GKF-JFJ (N.D. Okla., filed Feb. 13, 2025).

I’m Cherokee (or other tribal affiliation) and pulled over in the Muscogee Nation within Tulsa City limits and received a speeding ticket. What does that mean for me?
Indian Tribes already have criminal jurisdiction over all Indian defendants (including non-member Indians) for crimes occurring in Indian Country. See 25 U.S.C.A. § 1301.2. The City of Tulsa will defer to the Muscogee Nation’s jurisdiction and file such cases in tribal court for prosecution.

How will Tulsa Police ensure due process when checking tribal status?
Tulsa Police will make a good faith effort to determine Indian status, including observing tribal plates, asking a suspect, and inspecting tribal identification. Officers will not conduct evidentiary hearings on the side of the road, however. If a suspect cannot establish citizenship status, he or she may need to provide such information to municipal court as a defense to municipal prosecution. Additional training will take place for law enforcement personnel tasked with determining tribal status.

I’m Native and my case is in City of Tulsa Municipal Court currently. What do I do? What does this mean?
You can notify the municipal prosecutor assigned to your case and the court that you are native. They will make a determination regarding whether to dismiss your case and refer it to the Muscogee Nation or Cherokee Nation for prosecution. It does not mean that there will be no consequences for violating the law.

Does this affect current cases for tribal members in District Court at the Tulsa County Courthouse?
No. The Tulsa County District Attorney makes decisions regarding prosecution of crimes in Tulsa County District Court.

Can Muscogee Lighthorse police pull me over if I’m not Native within Tulsa City limits?
Yes. Any dispute as to an officer’s authority should be resolved in court, not during an interaction with law enforcement.

Can Muscogee Lighthorse police pull me over if I am Native and within Tulsa City limits?
Indian Tribes have criminal jurisdiction over all Indian defendants (including non-member Indians) for crimes occurring in Indian Country. See 25 U.S.C.A. § 1301.2.  Again, any dispute as to an officer’s authority should be resolved in court, not during an interaction with law enforcement.

What kind of criminal offenses fall under the COT municipal court?
Tulsa Municipal Court only handles misdemeanor offenses. Traffic and parking violations are the main offenses that fall under Tulsa Municipal Court. Other offenses that go before Tulsa Municipal Court can include code violations for health, fire, animal, and zoning violations. Additional offenses handled by Tulsa Municipal Court also include certain misdemeanor larceny, trespassing, and public intoxication cases. Penalties associated with each are different based on the violation. If you have questions about your municipal case, please contact court records at (918) 596-1625. The City of Tulsa's code of ordinances can be found online.

Who will be a part of the working group?
The primary purpose of the working group is to develop and implement a plan for cooperative law enforcement. Tulsa and Lighthorse Police will be essential participants. Others could include municipal and tribal prosecutors, ancillary service providers, and policymakers.

Are Tulsa Police officers cross-deputized? If so, what does that mean?
Yes. Tulsa Police officers are cross commissioned to enforce laws with regard to native suspects. See Intergovernmental Cross-Deputization Agreement Between the United States, Muscogee (Creek) Nation, and Political Subdivisions of the State of Oklahoma. Read More

This agreement is just for Muscogee Nation. What does that mean for the other tribal governments?
Mayor Nichols plans to work with other tribal partners to create a similar framework.  The City of Tulsa has already begun referring cases to the Cherokee Nation Involving Indian defendants for conduct occurring on the Cherokee Reservation. Regardless, any tribal member whose case occurred within the city limits of Tulsa within the Muscogee Nation boundaries will be deferred to the tribal court of the Muscogee Nation.

Will this impact my case in Tulsa County District Court?
This settlement agreement does not affect any pending cases in Tulsa County District Court (see above).

Does this impact Creek Freedman?
This settlement agreement does not address the issue of Freemen citizenship pursuant to Muscogee Nation and federal law. See, e.g., Citizenship Board of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation v. Rhonda K. Grayson, et al., SC-2023-10 (Muscogee Nation Supreme Court).