Convicted Tribesman Must Exhaust Tribal Remedies, Judge Finds

Mealey's (September 21, 2018, 10:53 AM EDT) -- ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A Native American convicted and jailed by his tribe for fraud and larceny must appeal to the tribe before seeking federal habeas relief because he signed a statement of his appeal rights with the tribe, a New Mexico federal judge ruled Sept. 18 in dismissing his petition, but without prejudice (Kenneth Aguilar v. Victor Rodriguez, et al., No. 17-cv-1264, D. N.M., 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 158655)....