“So the Supreme Court just gave away half of a US State to protect a pedophile?”
Seems like the Supreme Court just ruled that Congress never took that half of the state back from the Indians. They could remedy that any time they want.
As for “protecting a pedophile”, he’s still liable to be prosecuted, but the Supremes ruled he should have been prosecuted in federal or tribal court, not state court. The proper authorities should just re-arrest him the moment the state releases him.
You know how GEOTUS feels about sex crimes against children?
Out of the frying pan into the industrial blast furnace for the plaintiff, despite the ruling. (Remember, he's already been convicted "beyond a reasonable doubt" -- despite the jurisdictional tangle, which does not automatically make the evidence invalid...)
Happens all the time here in New Mexico - major crimes committed on reservations or pueblo lands are investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by the US attorney. One of the most horrific crimes that took place on the Navajo Reservation in 2016 was a member who kidnapped, raped and murdered an 11-year old girl near Shiprock. He was caught and in a plea deal received a life sentence instead of execution.