Mary Jane WILSON, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Thomas David MARCHINGTON; Inland Empire Shows, Inc., Defendants-Appellants

THOMAS, Circuit Judge.

This appeal presents the question of whether, and under what circumstances, a tribal court tort judgment is entitled to recognition in the United States Courts. We conclude that the principles of comity, not fell faith and credit, govern whether a district court should recognize and enforce a tribal court judgment. In this instance, because the tribal court lacked jurisdiction, its judgment is not entitled to recognition in the United States courts.

I

The traffic accident which precipitated this action involved Mary Jane Wilson, who is an enrolled member of the Blackfeet…