The Northern Arapaho tribe, which also occupies the Wind River Reservation, released a statement explaining the similarities of the Parker, Nebraska and Riverton cases.

“The decision in the Omaha case is a good outcome and gives the Northern Arapaho tribe hope that the federal court will rule in our favor,” Dean Goggles, Northern Arapaho Council chairman, said in the statement.

Attorneys for the Northern Arapaho filed a friend-of-court brief in the Nebraska case, in support of the Omaha tribe.

Wyoming Attorney General Peter Michael said he could not comment on whether Wyoming is at risk of losing the case.

The outcome of the Wyoming case would likely apply only to American Indians living in Riverton. Tribal authorities would have jurisdiction over their own members when they are accused of misdemeanors and felonies. Instead of municipal and state courts, they’d be prosecuted in tribal and federal courts.

Nebraska case