What is the governing law in a case involving stolen artifacts from State A sold in State B?

In a case involving stolen artifacts, the law of the state where the theft occurred typically governs, particularly in matters concerning property rights and theft. The rationale behind this is that the original ownership and rights to the artifacts are rooted in the circumstances of the theft, meaning that the state where the theft took place has a compelling interest in maintaining the integrity of property laws related to items that were unlawfully taken.

When artifacts are stolen, the legal issues regarding their ownership and rights to recover them often depend on the laws as they pertain to theft and restitution in the jurisdiction where the theft occurred. This jurisdiction has the authority to address matters related to the legality of the ownership and the rights of the original owner versus any subsequent purchasers.

The other options do not carry the same weight in determining the governing law. The state where the artifacts were sold may have its own laws regarding sales and transactions, but it does not supersede the foundational law surrounding theft. The state where the trial is held will follow procedural laws, but it does not inherently decide substantive issues of ownership. Similarly, the domicile of the seller might impact various legal assessments, but it doesn't change the fact that the original crime of theft occurred in a specific location that informs the legal context of ownership and