Washington Supreme Court overturns 1924 conviction of Yakama Nation citizen Jim Wallahee, citing treaty right to hunt on open lands.

The Washington Supreme Court has overturned the 1924 conviction of a Yakama Nation citizen, Jim Wallahee, who was convicted for illegally hunting a deer on land ceded in the Treaty of 1855. In a 7-2 ruling, the court found that Wallahee's conviction ignored his treaty right to hunt on open and unclaimed lands. The ruling is seen as a step toward reconciliation, redressing the racist harm from a century-old unjust conviction.

May 17, 2024
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