"The Supreme Court's ruling represents a step in the right direction, and is long overdue. For far too long, the Supreme Court has issued rulings that have severely restricted criminal and civil jurisdiction of tribal governments, thereby weakening inherent tribal sovereignty.

"I am hopeful that the Lara decision marks an end to the anti-sovereignty jurisprudence exhibited by the Court in the past two decades, and that yesterday's ruling represents a turning point in the way the Court views tribal sovereignty."