United States v. Lara

United States v. Lara is a Supreme Court case from 2004 that addressed the legal powers of Native American tribes. The court ruled that tribes have the authority to prosecute non-member defendants for crimes committed on tribal land. This decision affirmed that tribal sovereignty allows governments to enforce their laws, even against individuals not part of the tribe. It highlighted the balance between federal authority and tribal self-governance, emphasizing that tribes can maintain their legal systems while protecting their communities.