Commissioners' Update: Lawsuits, building project
Public Law 280
Lake County’s lawsuit against the State of Montana over Public Law 280 (PL 280) jurisdiction on the Flathead Reservation is working its way through the judicial system. District Court Judge Amy Eddy rendered a summary judgment in favor of the State of Montana against Lake County on Nov. 9. The Commissioners are considering whether or not to appeal her decision to the State Supreme Court.
This law, which took effect in the 1960s, requires the County to prosecute all felonies committed on the reservation by any member of a federally recognized tribe. The costs associated with this jurisdiction have risen to the level where they are a huge drain on our overall budget.
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