Ho-Chunk Nation Cert Opposition Brief

Here is the brief in opposition in Wisconsin v. Ho-Chunk Nation:

Ho-Chunk Nation Cert Opposition Brief

Cert petition here.

Little River Ottawa Sixth Circuit En Banc Petition

Here are the new materials in NLRB v. Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Tribal Government:

LRB Motion

LRB En Banc Petition

CA6 panel decision here.

Federal Court Orders Guidiville Rancheria and Casino Development Partner to Pay $1.9M in Attorney Fees to City of Richmond

Here are the materials in Guidiville Rancheria v. United States (N.D. Cal.):

113 City of Richmond Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings

154 Upstream Point Response

162 City of Richmond Reply

212 DCT Order Granting Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings

255 City of Richmond Motion for Atty Fees

270 Upstream Point Response

271 Guidiville Response

273 City Reply

289 DCT Order Granting Motion for Atty Fees

The tribe has appealed to the Ninth Circuit on the merits of the claim and has already filed their opening brief:

Appellants Joint Opening Brief

Navajo to tax alcohol sold at casinos

Here.

New Scholarship on the Economic Impact of IGRA

Randall K. Q. Akee, Katherine A. Spilde, and Jonathan B. Taylor have published “The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and Its Effects on American Indian Economic Development” in the Journal of Economic Perspectives.

Here is the abstract:

The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), passed by the US Congress in 1988, was a watershed in the history of policymaking directed toward reservation-resident American Indians. IGRA set the stage for tribal government-owned gaming facilities. It also shaped how this new industry would develop and how tribal governments would invest gaming revenues. Since then, Indian gaming has approached commercial, state-licensed gaming in total revenues. Gaming operations have had a far-reaching and transformative effect on American Indian reservations and their economies. Specifically, Indian gaming has allowed marked improvements in several important dimensions of reservation life. For the first time, some tribal governments have moved to fiscal independence. Native nations have invested gaming revenues in their economies and societies, often with dramatic effect.

PDF.

Another Update in Cosentino v. Fuller Depublication Request

Here:

Defendants’ Request for Depublication

Oppo to Viejas Band’s Depub Request

Opposition to Request of Defendants to Depublish

Opposition to Request of Group of 13

Prior depublication-related posts here and here.

Cal. COA opinion here.

Oklahoma v. Hobia Cert Stage Briefing Complete

Here:

Petition for a Writ of Certiorari

Hobia Cert Opp

Oklahoma Reply

Lower court materials here.

Wisconsin v. Ho-Chunk Nation Cert Petition re: e-Poker

Here:

Wisconsin v. Ho-Chunk Nation Cert Petition

Question presented:

The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) defines authorized Indian gaming as Class I, Class II, or Class III. 25 U.S.C. § 2703. Unlike Class III gaming, Class II is not subject to tribal-state gaming compacts. 25 U.S.C. § 2710. Class II gaming includes card games that “are not explicitly prohibited by the laws of the State.” 25 U.S.C. § 2703(7)(A)(ii)(II). Wisconsin’s Constitution prohibits the state legislature from authorizing any form of gambling, including poker. See Wis. Const., art. IV, § 24(1).
Prior to Congress enacting IGRA, the Court held that a state cannot enforce its gambling laws on Indian land when its policy toward gambling is civil and regulatory, rather than criminal and prohibitory. California v. Cabazon Band of Mission Indians,480 U.S. 202, 210 (1987). Here, the Seventh Circuit applied Cabazon to interpret IGRA. It concluded that the electronic poker offered by the Ho-Chunk Nation is Class II, not Class III, when Wisconsin’s policy toward gambling and poker is regulatory, rather than prohibitory. Under this approach, the Nation can offer e-poker in Madison, Wisconsin despite the parties’ compact, which does not authorize Class III gaming in Madison.
The question presented is:
Whether Cabazon’s “regulatory/prohibitory” test that pre-dates IGRA applies to determine whether a game is Class II or Class III gaming under IGRA?

Lower court materials here.

Latest District Court Memorandum and Order in Duluth v. Fond Du Lac

07 28 15 Nelson Decision

Given the significant weight that is to be placed on this factor, the Court finds that it tips the balance in favor of granting the Band retrospective relief under Rule 60(b)(6). Although (1) the parties voluntarily agreed to the Consent Decree, (2) the NIGC initially endorsed the Agreements, and (3) the NIGC may lack authority to punish the Band for its compliance with the Consent Decree, those factors are outweighed by (4) the strong congressional intent that tribes be the primary beneficiaries of gaming revenues, (5) the fact that the Band’s obligation to pay rent under the Agreements is now considered—by the agency tasked with making such determinations—to violate that intent, and (6) the fact that the City was aware of the NIGC’s changing viewpoint on the subject matter. Accordingly, the Band is relieved from its obligation to pay to the City the rent withheld in 2009, 2010, and 2011.

Previous coverage here.

Ninth Circuit Rules in Favor of Idaho in Texas Hold ‘Em Dispute with Coeur d’Alene Tribe

here is the opinion

Briefs here