Stitt names counsel to address high-court reservation ruling

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Gov. Kevin Stitt has appointed a special counsel to help his administration address a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that held much of eastern Oklahoma is an Indian reservation.

Stitt announced on Friday the hiring of Oklahoma City lawyer Ryan Leonard to serve as his special counsel for Native American affairs. Leonard’s webpage says Native American and tribal affairs are among his specialties.

The high court’s July ruling in McGirt v. Oklahoma led other courts, as expected, to declare that four other tribal lands remain reservations, and now covers much of the eastern half of the state, including most of Tulsa.