Oklahoma! where reservations were created and remain!
And the waivin' claims, won't abate
Cos' the claims come years behind the pain!
Things I learned from yesterday's Supreme Court opinion in McGirt v. Oklahoma (the one where the majority concluded that for purposes of the Major Crimes Act, eastern Oklahoma is still part of a reservation):
- There's a difference between sovereignty and ownership.
- Left bloc of Court signed on to this: "There is no need to consult extratextual sources when the meaning of a statute’s terms is clear." Slip op. at 20.
- "[T]he magnitude of a legal wrong is no reason to perpetuate it." Slip op. at 38. (As long as the legal wrong isn't a court opinion, that is. In that case, stare decisis.)
- "[T]hings could work out in the end," and the parties may negotiate. Slip op. at 39. The epigram of history. Spoken like someone who's never negotiated.
- "Swathe" vs "swath." Dissent at 1 (Roberts, C.J., dissenting). Damn, CJ, you scary.
- I don't think I need to study for the future Nation of Hawaii bar exam.
