Oklahoma – Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has filed a motion to intervene in *Muscogee Creek Nation v. City of Tulsa*, a lawsuit challenging the city’s authority to enforce municipal laws, including traffic laws, against tribal members.
The case raises questions about Tulsa’s police powers, which derive from the State of Oklahoma.
The Governor’s motion argues that neither the Creek Nation nor the City of Tulsa represents the state’s broader interests in the lawsuit.
Stitt seeks to join the case to defend Oklahoma’s sovereign authority, stating that the lawsuit directly challenges the state’s ability to exercise criminal jurisdiction within its territory.
The motion emphasizes the state’s interest in enforcing its laws and maintaining police powers. It cites Supreme Court precedent affirming that states have a legitimate right to enforce their own statutes.
The filing warns that excluding the state from the case could hinder its ability to uphold laws, exercise police authority, and protect residents.
The Oklahoma Supreme Court recently affirmed the governor’s constitutional authority to represent the state in legal matters.
Stitt’s intervention aims to ensure that Oklahoma’s interests are properly defended as the lawsuit proceeds.
Read the full motion here.
