Eighth Circuit Rejects Sandy Lake Chippewa Secretarial Election Appeal — UPDATED with briefs

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here is the opinion.

The court’s syllabus:

Civil case – Indian law. Because the district court had adjudicated the issue of subject matter jurisdiction in the Sandy Lake Band’s previous suit, and Sandy Lake did not appeal from that decision or exhaust its administrative remedies, the court is bound by the district court’s original determination that it lacked subject matter jurisdiction; the district court’s dismissal order is affirmed, but modified to be without prejudice.

Briefs:

Sandy Lake Opening Brief

Federal Answering Brief

Sandy Lake Reply

Lower court materials here.