Download opinion in the matter of U.S. v. Reza-Ramos (Mar 9 2016) here.
Author: Sarah Donnelly
NCAI, Huy, NARF Amici Briefing in SCOTUS RLUIPA Appeal
9th Cir. Cites Standing in Dismissal for La Cuna De Aztlan Sacred Sites Protection Circle Advisory Committee v. DOI
Excerpt:
Plaintiffs have failed to establish standing to pursue a claim under Sections 1702 and 1705 of the EPAct, 42 U.S.C. §§ 16512, 16516. To demonstrate individual standing, a plaintiff must “have suffered or be imminently threatened with a concrete and particularized ‘injury in fact’ that is fairly traceable to the challenged action of the defendant and likely to be redressed by a favorable judicial decision.” Lexmark Int’l, Inc. v. Static Control Components, Inc., 134 S.Ct. 1377, 1386 (2014) (citing Lujan v. Defs. of Wildlife, 504 U.S. 555, 560 (1992)). Even if we assume Plaintiffs adequately pled injury-in-fact and redressability, they have not sufficiently alleged causation. Plaintiffs make a conclusory allegation that the Genesis Solar Energy Project (“Project”) would not have gone forward without the federal loan guarantee, but they allege no supporting facts. Plaintiffs have failed to demonstrate that their alleged injury—suffering harm to environmental and cultural resources at the Project site—is “fairly traceable” to the Federal Defendants’ approval of the loan guarantee for the Project.
Spring 2016 Michigan Indian Legal Services Newsletter
Download Spring_2016_MILS_Newsletter (PDF)
Full-time Position with Yakama Nation Public Defender’s Office
Download job listing and position description here.
ILPC Students in Ingham County Legal News
Download Ingham County Legal News here (photo on page 2).
MSU LAW students Corrinna Bailey and Samantha Smith presented “Impact of the Land Treaties in Michigan on Native Americans” at the Jackson District Library on February 18, 2016.
Pascua Yaqui Review of the Impact of Sentencing Guidelines on Tribal Communities
Download comments here.
The United States Sentencing Commission’s Tribal Issues Advisory Group visited the Reservation last week. The issue they were investigating was whether there was disparity between a tribal member sentenced in federal court, when compared to a similarly situated defendant in state court. The information and data collected over the past year showed no disparity for the Tribe.
Rep. Pearce (R-NM) Introduces PROTECT to Congress
Link to concurrent resolution here.
The summary of the resolution upon introduction:
By Mr. PEARCE (for himself, Mr. COLE, and Ms. MCCOLLUM):
Con. Res. 122. Concurrent resolution supporting efforts to stop the theft, illegal possession or sale, transfer, and export of tribal cultural items of American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians in the United States and internationally; to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, and Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
The press release from Pearce’s office: https://pearce.house.gov/press-release/pearce-introduces-resolution-protect-tribal-artifacts.
The press release from the Association on American Indian Affairs, which puts this issue in its international human rights context: https://internationalrepatriation.wordpress.com/2016/03/02/breaking-pearce-introduces-protect-patrimony-resolution/.
Minn. American Indian Bar Assoc.’s 2016 Indian Law Conference
Download the agenda and registration form here.
The MAIBA CLE Committee announces the 2016 Indian Law Conference will be held on Friday May 6th at the Mystic Lake Casino Hotel. An excellent program has been scheduled with several national speakers and cutting edge topics. Please note that Professor Sarah Deer will be honored at the reception Friday afternoon.
Their co-sponsor, Minnesota CLE, is again handling registration. Please find the attached brochure, which includes the agenda. You can view the same material and register by using the following link:
The Honorable Allie Greenleaf Maldonado and Prof. Angela Riley Honored in International Women’s Day Portrait Exhibit at Harvard Law School
Cambridge, Mass, March 3, 2016 – The Honorable Allie Greenleaf Maldonado and Prof. Angela Riley are among 25 inspiring women who will be honored during Harvard Law School’s third Annual International Women’s Day Celebration, organized by the Harvard Women’s Law Association (WLA) and Harvard Law and International Development Society (LIDS). Judge Maldonado is the Chief Judge of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians (LTBB). Judge Maldonado is a Co-Chair of the first Tribal State Federal Judicial Forum, and a nationally recognized expert on the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and the Michigan Indian Family Preservation Act (MIFPA).
Honorees were selected from nominations submitted by Harvard Law School students, faculty and staff.
As part of the celebrations, Judge Maldonado will be featured in a portrait exhibit, which will be displayed in the halls of the law school from February 29th- March 11th.
In addition to the portrait exhibit, the WLA and LIDS will be hosting a lunch event recognizing the honorees. The event will take place at the law school on Tuesday, March 8th from 12:00-2:00pm.
Speakers at the March 8 event include Elizabeth Warren, U.S. Senator from Massachusetts; Mindy J. Roseman, Director of International Programs and Gruber Program on Global Justice and Women’s Rights at Yale Law School; and Roxanne Conlin, one of the first women ever to be named U.S. Attorney, and the first female president of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.
More information about the event is available at https://orgs.law.harvard.edu/womeninspiringchange/
The website includes portraits of all this year’s honorees, as well as honorees in previous years.
For more information, contact: Anna Andreeva (aandreeva@jd17.law.harvard.edu) and Alice Prinsley (aprinsley@jd17.law.harvard.edu).
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