Attorney General
Here's a look at documents from state attorneys general
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Va. A.G. Jones Statement Regarding Shooting at Old Dominion University Campus
RICHMOND, Virginia, March 13 -- Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones issued the following statement on March 12, 2026:
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Attorney General Jay Jones Statement Regarding Shooting at Old Dominion University Campus
Attorney General Jay Jones released the following statement in the wake of a shooting on the campus of Old Dominion University in which the threat was neutralized.
"My deepest thoughts, prayers, and support go out to the Old Dominion community as they continue to learn more and process this tragedy," said Attorney General Jones. "I applaud the quick action of Old Dominion University
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RICHMOND, Virginia, March 13 -- Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones issued the following statement on March 12, 2026:
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Attorney General Jay Jones Statement Regarding Shooting at Old Dominion University Campus
Attorney General Jay Jones released the following statement in the wake of a shooting on the campus of Old Dominion University in which the threat was neutralized.
"My deepest thoughts, prayers, and support go out to the Old Dominion community as they continue to learn more and process this tragedy," said Attorney General Jones. "I applaud the quick action of Old Dominion UniversityPolice, Norfolk Police, and emergency personnel on the ground to neutralize the threat and restore safety to campus. My office continues to work closely with the university and stands ready to support local law enforcement as they continue the investigative process. We encourage students and families to follow the direction of law enforcement and university officials as they continue to maintain public safety."
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Original text here: https://www.oag.state.va.us/media-center/news-releases/2980-attorney-general-jay-jones-statement-regarding-shooting-at-old-dominion-university-campus
S.D. A.G. Jackley Announces State Penitentiary Inmate Jury Conviction
PIERRE, South Dakota, March 13 -- South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Jackley Announces State Penitentiary Inmate Jury Conviction
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that a South Dakota State Penitentiary inmate has been convicted of two counts of Aggravated Assault and one count of First-Degree Robbery.
Jeremiah Hart, 36, was convicted Thursday by a Minnehaha County Jury. He faces a maximum sentence of 80 years in prison when he is sentenced later. The potential penalty is doubled because Hart was an inmate
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PIERRE, South Dakota, March 13 -- South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Jackley Announces State Penitentiary Inmate Jury Conviction
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that a South Dakota State Penitentiary inmate has been convicted of two counts of Aggravated Assault and one count of First-Degree Robbery.
Jeremiah Hart, 36, was convicted Thursday by a Minnehaha County Jury. He faces a maximum sentence of 80 years in prison when he is sentenced later. The potential penalty is doubled because Hart was an inmateat the time of the offenses.
"Violence will not be tolerated within our prisons," said Attorney General Jackley. "Prison staff and inmates deserve to work and live in a safe environment."
On April 23, 2024, Hart stabbed another inmate with a dangerous weapon and robbed him. The victim later recovered from his injuries.
The case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and the Department of Corrections' Office of Inspector General. The Attorney General's Office prosecuted.
Hart is currently serving a 20-year sentence out of Davison County after pleading guilty in 2013 to Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer.
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Original text here: https://atg.sd.gov/OurOffice/Media/pressreleasesdetail.aspx?id=3029
Governor Healey and Attorney General Campbell Launch State Portal to Report ICE Misconduct
BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 13 -- Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell issued the following news release:
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Governor Healey and Attorney General Campbell Launch State Portal to Report ICE Misconduct
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Boston -Governor Maura Healey and Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell today announced the launch of a new online portal that allows Massachusetts residents to report alleged misconduct by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents operating within the state. The portal is available at mass.gov/fedmisconduct.
The portal provides a centralized place for
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BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 13 -- Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell issued the following news release:
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Governor Healey and Attorney General Campbell Launch State Portal to Report ICE Misconduct
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Boston -Governor Maura Healey and Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell today announced the launch of a new online portal that allows Massachusetts residents to report alleged misconduct by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents operating within the state. The portal is available at mass.gov/fedmisconduct.
The portal provides a centralized place forindividuals, families, attorneys and community members to document incidents involving members of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and other federal agencies that enforce civil immigration laws. The portal is designed to help the state identify patterns of potential misconduct, support affected residents, and inform possible legal or policy actions by the state.
"We've seen across the country and here in Massachusetts that the tactics of ICE under the Trump Administration have been putting everyone at risk. The people of Massachusetts deserve to know that their rights will be respected, their safety protected and their concerns about misconduct taken seriously," said Governor Healey. "This new reporting portal will help us gather information, support residents and ensure federal agents operating in our state are following the law."
"The core duty of law enforcement, including federal law enforcement, is to keep our communities safe. But what we have seen from ICE in recent months across the country is the opposite: aggressive and reckless tactics that spread fear and chaos in our communities," said Attorney General Campbell. "As my office works to ensure residents are protected and have access to the legal assistance they need, I encourage everyone to use this new reporting portal if they see concerning ICE activity in their communities."
The portal will allow members of the public to share information about incidents involving potentially unlawful activity by federal agents in Massachusetts, including videos and photographs. Information submitted through the portal may help the state identify patterns of potential misconduct, inform possible legal action or policy recommendations, and connect affected residents with legal advocacy organizations.
Today, AG Campbell also released updated 'Know Your Rights' guidance designed to help immigrants, families, and communities understand their rights and the basic legal framework for ICE actions. Notably, the updated guidance includes timely information about holding federal immigration officials accountable, the role of U.S. Customs and Border Protection given their increased activity in recent ICE surges, the rights of protestors, and new executive orders at the state and local level. The updated guidance can be found on the AGO's Immigrant Resources webpage and read in its entirety here.
The launch of the portal follows several actions taken by Governor Healey to hold ICE accountable and to increase transparency and accountability around federal immigration enforcement in Massachusetts.
Earlier this week, Governor Healey requested that Signature Aviation stop supporting deportation flights out of Hanscom Field in Massachusetts. She also demanded that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and ICE provide greater transparency and accurate information regarding immigration arrests and detention practices in Massachusetts, including information about who is being detained, the legal basis for those arrests, and where individuals have been taken and are being held.
In addition, the Governor has filed legislation to prohibit ICE operations in sensitive locations such as courthouses, schools, child care programs, hospitals, and places of worship, and signed an executive order requiring judicial warrants for entry into non-public areas of state facilities, limiting the use of state resources for civil immigration enforcement, and restricting participation in federal 287(g) agreements absent a clear public safety need.
Statements of Support:
Senate President Karen Spilka:
"Under Donald Trump, we have seen federal immigration enforcement devolve into reckless tactics that terrorize communities and erode basic civil rights. Massachusetts cannot sit quietly while federal agents abuse their authority and put our residents at risk.This reporting portal sends a clear message: if federal officials violate the law or trample on the rights of people in our state, we will document it, expose it, and do everything possible to hold them to account. The Senate stands unequivocally with the Governor and the Attorney General in their work to protect our residents."
District Attorney Kevin Hayden, Suffolk:
"In our capital city of Boston, Suffolk County and all of Massachusetts, our leadership stands united in support of our good and hard-working residents in our immigrant communities. I commend Governor Healey and AG Campbell for their bold step in establishing this Portal. My Office's primary job is to maintain public safety by holding offenders accountable and securing justice for victims. Many ICE tactics under the Trump administration hinder us from doing that. People have the right to peacefully protest and monitor law enforcement activities without threat of violence or detention. My office will always safeguard against any violation of those rights. I encourage our federal partners to work with, not against, state and local law enforcement and to carry out their duties in a lawful, transparent and non-violent manner."
District Attorney Dave Sullivan, Northwestern:
"This portal initiative, giving citizens the opportunity to report alleged criminal misconduct by ICE agents, sends a clear message that Massachusetts cares deeply about public safety, civil rights, and constitutional rights. At its core, this effort by Governor Healey and Attorney General Campbell is about accountability and integrity. I believe fear is not a public safety strategy. It fractures trust, weakens cooperation, and ultimately makes our communities less safe. Strong communities depend on trust in the institutions that serve them. My office will always stand in defense of the Constitution and the rule of law. We will not remain silent when government power, at any level, is used in ways that undermine those principles. In Massachusetts, no person is above the law, and accountability must apply to everyone."
District Attorney Timothy J. Shugrue, Berkshire:
"I commend Governor Healey and Attorney General Campbell for creating this portal. The recent actions of ICE breeched citizens' constitutional rights and created chaos in communities. Governor Healey has already taken proactive measures to protect Massachusetts' residents from this rogue agency, including the steps outlined in her January executive action and legislation. I believe this portal will provide additional support and resources for those harmed by unlawful actions of ICE. Additionally, the portal will serve as a tool for citizens who witness suspected unlawful actions of ICE but are unclear of where or how to report them."
Josiane Martinez, Chair, Governor's Latino Empowerment Council:
"Massachusetts residents deserve to know that their rights will be respected regardless of who is enforcing the law. I commend Governor Maura Healey and Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell for creating a clear and accessible way for communities to document concerns about the actions of ICE agents operating in our state. When families feel safe and trust the institutions around them, our communities are stronger. This portal helps ensure transparency, accountability, and respect for the civil rights of everyone who calls Massachusetts home."
Tanisha Sullivan, Chair, Governor's Black Empowerment Council:
"Massachusetts must remain a place where civil rights are protected and residents can safely report concerns without fear. This portal is an important step toward transparency, accountability, and ensuring that everyone in our Commonwealth is treated with dignity under the law."
Marjean Perhot, Vice President, Refugee and Immigrant Services, Catholic Charities Boston:
"At Catholic Charities Boston, every day we see clients across our programs living in a state of fear and anxiety. We are committed to protecting their rights to access vital services, including nutritious food for the most vulnerable children, elderly, and families. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners to keep families together and safe."
Elizabeth Sweet, Executive Director, Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition:
"Today, Massachusetts builds on its long history of protecting immigrant rights and safety. We are grateful to Governor Healey and Attorney General Campbell for creating an easily accessible place for the people of Massachusetts to go and assist in keeping all who call the Commonwealth home safe in these challenging times. The federal government's continued use of violent, secret and militaristic tactics must stop and, whenever possible, called out, reported and investigated. This portal will help people, their families, attorneys and community members to safely and effectively report incidents involving ICE, CBP and other federal agencies. We encourage individuals to use it and ensure we can protect all of our legal and civil rights."
Lenita Reason, Executive Director, Brazilian Worker's Center:
"The launch of this new portal represents an important step toward protecting our society. Since the beginning of last year, we had to change the way we educate our communities regarding to their civil rights. With this initiative, Governor Healey and Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell are providing an important response that strengthens accountability and offers meaningful support to our communities."
Doris Landaverde, Coordinator, Massachusetts TPS Committee:
"We have witnessed the termination of TPS for 13 countries. Even though many of these cases are still pending in court, thousands of people remain without protection from deportation. A portal where community members can document ICE arrests and the violence taking place in Massachusetts is critical. It allows immigrant communities to report abuses, make their experiences visible, and demand accountability."
Rabbi James Greene, Chief Executive Officer, Jewish Family Service of Western Massachusetts:
"Immigrant families are our neighbors and want the opportunity to build lives of meaning in their home. Ripping people away from their community where they are soccer coaches, teachers, frontline service and healthcare workers is fundamentally harmful to the Commonwealth and unamerican. I am grateful that Governor Healey and Attorney General Campbell have launched this new resource to help community members protect one another. It is a reminder that the word "neighbor" is not a geographic concept, but rather a moral one that speaks to our shared values of human dignity and integrity. Thank you for the opportunity - and please pass on my thanks to the Governor and her team. We are lucky to have their continued support."
Cindy Rowe, President and CEO of the Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action:
"We know that ICE is operating outside of moral and constitutional boundaries, causing harm to our neighbors and instilling fear throughout our communities. This new portal will provide a way for us all to put ICE on notice that if they violate our rights, we will be documenting their actions and holding them accountable for how they treat our Massachusetts residents."
Lino Covarrubias, CEO, Jewish Family Service of Metrowest:
"In Judaism, the commandment to care for the stranger-the immigrant-appears more often in our sacred text the Torah than any other moral teaching. This reflects the deep historical experience of the Jewish people as a migratory community since the Exodus from Egypt. Creating a state system that allows residents to report concerns about the treatment of immigrant families can help ensure transparency, accountability, and fairness while Federal immigration laws are enforced. Such a system helps strengthen trust and supports the goal we all share: safe, thriving communities for everyone. For JFS, this is both a practical step and a reflection of our values."
Mariam Gas, Executive Director, Refugee and Immigrant Assistance Center (Boston):
"Governor Healey and Attorney General Campbell's new initiative - the new state portal to report abuses and misconduct by ICE agents sends a clear message of support to residents, including those with refugee and immigrant backgrounds, that Massachusetts takes their civil rights seriously and are willing to check the power of the federal government. This type of accountability makes America great."
Jeff Thielman, President and CEO, International Institute of New England (IINE):
"When one of our immigrant community members feels unsafe, we all suffer. We applaud Governor Healey and Attorney General Campbell for their commitment to protecting our state's most vulnerable residents. Efforts like this help ensure accountability and that everyone in Massachusetts finds dignity and protection."
Angela Bovill, CEO and President, Ascentria Care Alliance:
"We thank Governor Healey and Attorney General Campbell for their leadership in advancing transparency and accountability in government. Providing residents with a clear way to report alleged misconduct helps reinforce the principle that all law enforcement actions should be carried out in accordance with the law and the constitutional protections afforded to every individual. This portal is one of many important initiatives aimed at ensuring that ICE agents operating in our state are following the law. It is also a welcome step in supporting immigrant communities that contribute greatly to the strength, culture, and economic vitality of Massachusetts."
Hema Sarang-Sieminski, Executive Director, Jane Doe Inc.:
"As Jane Doe Inc., the Massachusetts coalition against sexual assault and domestic violence, we understand that immigrant rights are intertwined with safety and justice for all survivors. We support efforts to document harms inflicted by ICE. Violence and abuse thrives in silence and secrecy."
* Governor Maura Healey and Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll
Since taking office, Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll's top priority has been lowering costs, making life easier and protecting what makes Massachusetts the best place to live, work and learn.
* Office of the Attorney General
The Attorney General is the chief lawyer and law enforcement officer of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
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Original text here: https://www.mass.gov/news/governor-healey-and-attorney-general-campbell-launch-state-portal-to-report-ice-misconduct
Attorney General Rayfield Seeks Court Order to Stop the Trump Administration's Illegal Tariffs
SALEM, Oregon, March 13 -- Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Rayfield Seeks Court Order to Stop the Trump Administration's Illegal Tariffs
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Oregon Files Motion to Halt Illegal Tariffs that are Increasing Prices and Inflicting Chaos on the American Economy
Attorney General Dan Rayfield led a coalition of 23 other states today in filing a motion to block implementation of President Trump's latest efforts to impose illegal tariffs on products purchased by American consumers and businesses. The motion asks for summary judgment or,
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SALEM, Oregon, March 13 -- Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Rayfield Seeks Court Order to Stop the Trump Administration's Illegal Tariffs
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Oregon Files Motion to Halt Illegal Tariffs that are Increasing Prices and Inflicting Chaos on the American Economy
Attorney General Dan Rayfield led a coalition of 23 other states today in filing a motion to block implementation of President Trump's latest efforts to impose illegal tariffs on products purchased by American consumers and businesses. The motion asks for summary judgment or,alternatively, a preliminary injunction.
"Oregon families are paying more for groceries and other basic items because of these tariffs, and they shouldn't be," said Attorney General Rayfield. "The president doesn't have the authority to impose sweeping tariffs like these, and the courts have already said so once. The focus should also be on getting people and businesses their money back."
For more than a year, President Trump has unlawfully attempted to impose tariffs on essential goods purchased by American consumers and businesses. Initially, the President invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act-but the Supreme Court ruled those tariffs were unlawful.
The President is now attempting to use a different law that has never been used before-Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974-and has imposed 10 percent tariffs on most products worldwide, apparently in response to trade deficits. But those tariffs are illegal, too. Section 122 allows tariffs only when there are "large and serious balance-of-payment deficits." But no such thing exists-a trade deficit is not a balance-of-payment deficit.
Today's motion asks the U.S. Court of International Trade to order federal agencies to stop collecting the latest round of illegal tariffs. Economic analysis submitted to the court shows that state governments in the 24 plaintiff states stand to pay at least $748 million per year in additional costs due to the tariffs. Additionally, a recent analysis by researchers at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York concluded that nearly 90 percent of the costs of tariffs last year were paid by American consumers and businesses.
The case is entitled State of Oregon, et al., v. Trump, et al. (Case No. 1:26-cv-01472-3JP) and is pending before a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT). The court has scheduled in-person oral argument on the states' motion for 10:00 a.m. EDT on Friday, April 10, 2026, in its ceremonial courtroom in New York City.
The case is led by Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, California Attorney General Rob Bonta, and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Also joining the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and the Governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
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Original text here: https://www.doj.state.or.us/media-home/news-media-releases/ag-rayfield-files-court-order-to-stop-trumps-illegal-tariffs/
Attorney General Bonta Secures Second Court Order Blocking Trump Administration's Unlawful Termination of Over $600 Million In Federal Public Health Grants
SACRAMENTO, California, March 13 -- California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Bonta Secures Second Court Order Blocking Trump Administration's Unlawful Termination of Over $600 Million In Federal Public Health Grants
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OAKLAND - California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued the following statement in response to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois's decision granting a preliminary injunction that continues to block the Trump Administration from terminating more than $600 million in public health funding from
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SACRAMENTO, California, March 13 -- California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Bonta Secures Second Court Order Blocking Trump Administration's Unlawful Termination of Over $600 Million In Federal Public Health Grants
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OAKLAND - California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued the following statement in response to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois's decision granting a preliminary injunction that continues to block the Trump Administration from terminating more than $600 million in public health funding fromthe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The planned funding cuts exclusively target four Democratic-led states: California, Colorado, Illinois, and Minnesota. The attorneys general of each of those states filed a lawsuit last month alleging that the cuts would irreparably harm their states and are based on political animus.
"Public health funding is not a political bargaining chip," said Attorney General Bonta. "Over and over, courts have shut down the Trump Administration's efforts to punish states that have adopted policies it disagrees with. This case is no different. The President should be ashamed of himself. We're talking about funding that protects children from lead poisoning, that is used for the testing and treatment of HIV, and that allows us to track disease outbreaks. With this order, this funding will continue to flow -and we won't stop fighting until these cuts are blocked for good."
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Original text here: https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-secures-second-court-order-blocking-trump-0
ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL: COOK COUNTY WOMAN FOUND GUILTY OF STEALING LATE MOTHER'S TEACHERS PENSION
CHICAGO, Illinois, March 13 -- Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued the following news release:
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ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL: COOK COUNTY WOMAN FOUND GUILTY OF STEALING LATE MOTHER'S TEACHERS PENSION
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Chicago - Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced a Cook County woman was found guilty of stealing more than $100,000 from her late mother's Chicago Teachers Pension Fund.
Cook County Circuit Court Judge Alfredo Maldonado found Atara Young, 55, of Chicago, guilty of one count of misappropriation of financial institution property, a Class 1 felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison;
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CHICAGO, Illinois, March 13 -- Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued the following news release:
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ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL: COOK COUNTY WOMAN FOUND GUILTY OF STEALING LATE MOTHER'S TEACHERS PENSION
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Chicago - Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced a Cook County woman was found guilty of stealing more than $100,000 from her late mother's Chicago Teachers Pension Fund.
Cook County Circuit Court Judge Alfredo Maldonado found Atara Young, 55, of Chicago, guilty of one count of misappropriation of financial institution property, a Class 1 felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison;and one count of forgery, a Class 3 felony punishable by up to five years in prison. Following the verdict, she was taken into custody at the Cook County Jail, where she will remain until a future sentencing hearing. Young's next court date is April 27.
"It is disappointing that an immediate family member would take advantage of a family member's death to gain access to their loved one's hard-earned pension," Raoul said. "I will continue to hold those who commit these crimes accountable for lining their own pockets using stolen funds."
The Attorney General's office prosecuted this case based on a referral from the Chicago Teachers Pension Fund.
Attorney General Raoul's office determined the Chicago Teachers Pension Fund was not notified Shirleen Williams' death in September 2008. As a result, monthly pension checks continued to be deposited in Williams' account to which her daughter, Atara Young, had sole access. Raoul's office also determined that multiple times between October 2008 and July 2018, Young used Williams' credit card and then used Williams' bank account to pay the credit card invoices.
Additionally, between 2014 and 2016, Young wrote personal checks to herself using Williams' account, even signing the checks as Williams. Since Williams' death, the pension fund deposited more than $100,000 into Williams' account, which had all been spent as of July 2018.
Assistant Attorney General Samantha Cain prosecuted the case for Raoul's Special Prosecutions
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Original text here: https://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/news/story/attorney-general-raoul-cook-county-woman-found-guilty-of-stealing-late-mothers-teachers-pension-3-13-26
A.G. Jackley Announces S.D. Supreme Court Upholds Criminal Convictions in Charles Mix County Case
PIERRE, South Dakota, March 13 -- South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley issued the following news release on March 12, 2026:
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Attorney General Jackley Announces SD Supreme Court Upholds Criminal Convictions in Charles Mix County Case
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that the South Dakota Supreme Court has affirmed the convictions of Hazen Hunter Winckler, rejecting claims that the State lacked jurisdiction over criminal offenses occurring at the Charles Mix County courthouse and jail.
In its decision released Thursday, the Court upheld Winckler's convictions
... Show Full Article
PIERRE, South Dakota, March 13 -- South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley issued the following news release on March 12, 2026:
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Attorney General Jackley Announces SD Supreme Court Upholds Criminal Convictions in Charles Mix County Case
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that the South Dakota Supreme Court has affirmed the convictions of Hazen Hunter Winckler, rejecting claims that the State lacked jurisdiction over criminal offenses occurring at the Charles Mix County courthouse and jail.
In its decision released Thursday, the Court upheld Winckler's convictionsfor failure to appear and simple assault, concluding that the Charles Mix County courthouse and jail are not located in "Indian country" under federal law and therefore fall within state criminal jurisdiction.
"The South Dakota Supreme Court confirmed that the State has clear jurisdiction to prosecute crimes occurring at the Charles Mix County courthouse and jail," said Attorney General Jackley. "This decision provides important clarity for law enforcement, prosecutors, and the courts while ensuring accountability for criminal conduct."
Winckler, an enrolled member of the Yankton Sioux Tribe, argued that the courthouse and jail in Lake Andes were located in Indian country and that the State therefore lacked authority to prosecute him. The Supreme Court rejected that argument, holding that the land in question is not part of a reservation, not a dependent Indian community, and not an Indian allotment with unextinguished Indian title under federal law.
The Court also rejected several additional challenges raised by Winckler related to trial timing, evidentiary rulings, and sufficiency of the evidence supporting his conviction.
Winckler was convicted by a Charles Mix County jury of failure to appear after missing a scheduled pretrial conference and later pleaded guilty to simple assault stemming from an altercation at the county jail.
The case was prosecuted by the Charles Mix County States Attorney. The South Dakota Attorney General's Office represented the State on the appeal.
To read the verdict, click here: https://ujs.sd.gov/media/exfb3xtw/31006-31007.pdf
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Original text here: https://atg.sd.gov/OurOffice/Media/pressreleasesdetail.aspx?id=3027
