Northern Arapaho Tribe Prevails against Fish & Wildlife Service/Eastern Shoshone Tribe over Eagle Permits in Accordance with Hobby Lobby

Here is the opinion in Northern Arapaho Tribe v. Ashe (D. Wyo.):

93 DCT Order

An excerpt:

While the foregoing discussion is mired in legal nuance, at the end of the day, the federal government burdened one federally-recognized Indian tribe’s free exercise of religion based on the religious objection of another federally-recognized Indian tribe. Whether the First Amendment prevents the federal government from imposing the burden of law on one federally-recognized Indian tribe’s free exercise of religion for the benefit of another is a question of first impression, but it is clear that the First Amendment forbids such conduct—”The principle that government, in pursuit of legitimate interests, cannot in a selective manner impose burdens only on conduct motivated by religious belief is essential to the protection of the rights guaranteed by the Free Exercise Clause.” Church of the Lukumi Babalu Aye, 508 U.S. at 542. The Court finds that Defendants’ decision in its informal adjudication of Plaintiffs’ permit application violated the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment because the decision was not justified by a compelling governmental interest and was not narrowly tailored to advance the asserted interest.

The Court finds and that Defendants made an error of law when adjudicating Plaintiffs’ permit application and that Defendants’ error is capable of repetition, yet evading review. Therefore, this Court must set aside Defendants’ Permit Findings and Renewal Permit Findings, and remand to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reconsider those findings consistent with this Order. “When an administrative agency has made an error of law, the duty of the Court is to correct the error of law committed by that body, and, after doing so to remand the case to the [agency] so as to afford it the opportunity of examining the evidence and finding the facts as required by law.” Miami Tribe of Oklahoma v. United States, 656 F.3d 1129, 1138 (10th Cir. 2011).

Briefs:

79 NAT Motion for Summary J

85 Eastern Shoshone Supplement to Amicus Brief

87 FWS Motion for Summary J

89 NAT Opposition

90 NAT Reply

92 NAT Letter re Hobby Lobby

News coverage here.

Prior to Hobby Lobby, the court had not allowed the N. Arapaho Tribe to add an establishment clause claim, materials here.

A 2012 order on the merits — again, pre-Hobby Lobby — with materials is here.

Trouble Brewing at Warm Springs

Here is “Warm Springs Tribes Ask Federal Gov’t To Investigate Funds.”

Text of CARERS Act Bill

Here:

CARERS Act

Yurok Tribal Attorney Job Postings

The Yurok Tribe is seeking applicants for either the Attorney I or Attorney II position. Full job descriptions are below, or can be viewed at http://www.yuroktribe.org/departments/personnel/announcements.htm.

StaffAttorney_010

StaffAttorneyII2014 (1)

Ninth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Challenge to Pala Disenrollments

Here is the unpublished opinion in Allen v. Smith:

031.1 – Memorandum Disposition(83952089_1)

Excerpt:

This relief sought by the Appellants clearly operates against the Tribe. The
requested relief would prevent the Tribe from disenrolling the Appellants and
compel it to reinstate their membership and tribal benefits. Even the request for
compensatory and punitive damages (to be paid by the Appellees, not the Tribe)
would interfere with the Tribe’s public administration, because the monetary
damages are predicated on this court’s determination that the disenrollment of the Appellants was improper. Thus, we conclude that Appellants’ suit should be
construed as a suit against the Tribe itself.

Briefs and lower court materials here.

Eighth Circuit Holds Suit against South Dakota Police Officer for Shooting Indian Suspect in the Back May Proceed

Here is the opinion in Capps v. Olson.

An excerpt:

Sheriff’s Deputy David Olson shot and killed Christopher Capps (Capps).
Capps’s parents, Jerry and Jaylene Capps, sued Deputy Olson for using excessive
force against their son in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Deputy Olson alleges Capps
was charging towards him with a weapon at the time of the shooting. Capps’s parents 
allege Deputy Olson shot Capps in the back when Capps was unarmed. Deputy
Olson moved for summary judgment based on qualified immunity. The district court
1
denied Deputy Olson’s motion, holding that outstanding questions of fact precluded
a grant of qualified immunity. For the reasons stated below, we affirm.

  

Summer Internship at the Navajo Nation Department of Justice

Here:

The Navajo Nation Department of Justice Litigation and Employment Unit is looking to hire summer interns for Summer 2015. The Navajo Nation Department of Justice provides legal services to the different governmental entities of the Navajo Nation Government. The Litigation and Employment Unit represents the Nation’s interests in employment and labor cases as well as in other matters in which the interests of the Navajo Nation government are implicated. The Litigation and Employment Unit works to represent the Nation’s interest in tribal, state, and federal court and administrative tribunals. Interns would be primarily responsible for providing legal research on variety of Indian law issues, drafting memos, and working on legal pleading. If the opportunity arises interns will also be able to attend hearings in front of various tribunals. 

Requirements: A background and demonstrated interest in Indian law is required. Knowledge of Navajo tribal law is desired. Funding may be available for qualified applicants. 

To Apply: Please submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample of no more than five pages to kbelzowski@nndoj.org. 

The Navajo Nation gives preference to eligible and qualified applicants in accordance with the Navajo Preference in Employment Act.

National NALSA Announces 2015 Moot Court Winners (UPDATED with pics)

Here:

On March 6th and 7th of 2015 the National Native American Law Students Association (“NNALSA”) held its Annual Moot Court Competition. The competition was hosted by the James E. Rogers College of Law at the University of Arizona. This year’s competition was the biggest ever! 70 teams participated, and over 100 attorneys from Arizona to Washington D.C. served as brief and oral judges. All of the judges volunteered their own time and many paid their own travel expenses. The James E. Rogers College of Law’s NALSA chapter would like to thank all of the volunteers who helped plan and host this memorable competition.

 

This year’s winners include:

 

1st Place Best Overall Advocate: Team 181 of William Mitchell, Joshua Peterson and Scott Jurchisin

2nd Place Best Overall Advocate: Team 54 of University of Kansas, Corey Adams and Maureen Orth

3rd Place Best Overall Advocate: Team 92 of Seattle University, Drew Pollom and Jocelyn McCurtain

 

1st Place Best Brief: Team 181 of William Mitchell, Joshua Peterson and Scott Jurchisin

2nd Place Best Brief: Team 28 of Columbia, Jacob Wolf and Andrew Sangster

3rd Place Best Brief: Team 126 of Michigan State, Stephen Raslich and Amy Foerster 

 

1st Place Best Spoken Advocate: Team 120 of Univ. of Hawaii, Jordan Inafuki

2nd Place Best Spoken Advocate: Team 73 of Univ. of Nevada, Las Vegas, Kostan R. Lathouris

3rd Place Best Spoken Advocate: Team 120 of Univ. of Hawaii, Dylan Taschner

 

This was the second year that William Mitchell took “Best Brief” and “Best Overall Advocate.” Sarah Deer, who received one of the McArthur Genius awards this year, helped coach William Mitchell’s winning team. Colette Routel of William Mitchell helped coach the winning team as well. 

Congratulations to the winners of this year’s competition! 

 

Sincerely,

 

NNALSA

UPDATE with Pics:

1st Place Best Overall Advocate
1st Place Best Overall Advocate

1st Place Best Spoken Advocate
1st Place Best Spoken Advocate
2nd Place Best Brief
2nd Place Best Brief
2nd Place Best Overall Advocate
2nd Place Best Overall Advocate
3rd Place Best Brief
3rd Place Best Brief
3rd Place Best Overall Advocate
3rd Place Best Overall Advocate
3rd Place Best Spoken Advocate
3rd Place Best Spoken Advocate
4th Place Honorable Mention
4th Place Honorable Mention
Hawaii
Hawaii
NNALSA Board
NNALSA Board
PLSI
PLSI

 

CashCall v Inetianbor is SCOTUSBlog Petition of the Day

Here.

Materials here.

Indigenous Studies Panelists at Responsibility 2015 (Armenian Genocide)

Andrea Smith



My co-panelists Janna Thompson and Jermaine McAlpin