Effective Evidence

In OCCA case No. F-2016-1030, David Deval Martin appealed his conviction for First Degree Murder. In a published decision, the court decided to reverse the conviction and remand the case for dismissal. No one dissented. David Deval Martin was found guilty of First Degree Murder after a jury trial in McIntosh County. The judge sentenced him to life in prison without the chance of parole. Martin argued that the court did not have the authority to try him because he is a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, and the crime occurred on tribal land. The court looked at an important case called McGirt v. Oklahoma, which helped answer Martin’s questions about his status as an Indian and where the crime took place. They sent the case back to the local court for a closer look. There, it was determined through evidence that Martin is a member of the Creek Nation with some Indian blood, and the crime occurred within the Creek Nation’s territory. After the local court reviewed the evidence and found in favor of Martin, both sides agreed on important facts about his identity and where the crime occurred. Because of this, the higher court concluded that the state of Oklahoma did not have the right to prosecute Martin under these circumstances. As a result, they overturned the conviction and told the lower court to dismiss the charges against him.