In which court is a felony committed by a Native American tried?

A felony committed by a Native American is typically tried in federal court due to the special legal status of Native Americans and the jurisdictional complexities that arise from tribal sovereignty and federal law. According to the Major Crimes Act, certain felonies committed by Native Americans in Indian Country fall under federal jurisdiction. This means that when a crime meets these criteria, it is not tried in state or tribal courts, but instead in the federal court system.

Tribal courts generally handle misdemeanors and civil matters, so they would not have jurisdiction over felony offenses defined by federal law. As such, while tribes maintain a degree of sovereignty and can govern their own affairs, felonies involving Native Americans often require federal legal oversight to address the unique circumstances present in these legal cases. This system reflects the complex legal relationship between the federal government, state government, and tribal nations.