Professor Hellman Comments on Indian Tribe Case with the Associated Press

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has issued an important opinion clarifying the issue of federal recognition of Indian tribes, Pitt Law Professor Arthur D. Hellman told the Associated Press. The court issued a revised opinion in a criminal case.

"The court has now said that these tribes, as a matter of law, are recognized by the federal government, and that doesn't need to be proven," Hellman said. He added that “this opinion solely depends on whether the government provided sufficient evidence that [the defendant in this case] is derived from that tribe.”

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