Tenth Circuit Holds NIGC Indian Lands Opinion Letters Not Final Agency Action

Here is the opinion in State of Kansas v. Zinke.

An excerpt:

The question in this case is whether a legal opinion letter issued by the Acting General Counsel of the National Indian Gaming Commission (“NIGC”) regarding the eligibility of Indian lands for gaming constitutes “final agency action” subject to judicial review. In response to a request from the Quapaw Tribe, the NIGC Acting General Counsel issued a legal opinion letter stating that the Tribe’s Kansas trust land was eligible for gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (“IGRA”). The State of Kansas and the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Cherokee, Kansas, filed suit, arguing that the letter was arbitrary, capricious, and erroneous as a matter of law. The district court concluded that the letter did not constitute reviewable final agency action under IGRA or the Administrative Procedure Act (“APA”).

Exercising jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, we affirm. IGRA’s text, statutory scheme, legislative history, and attendant regulations demonstrate congressional intent to preclude judicial review of legal opinion letters. Further, the Acting General Counsel’s letter does not constitute final agency action under the APA because it has not determined any rights or obligations or produced legal consequences. In short, the letter merely expresses an advisory, non-binding opinion, without any legal effect on the status quo ante.

Briefs here.

Spokane County Sues to Stop Spokane Tribe Casino

Here is the complaint in Spokane County v. Dept. of Interior (E.D. Wash.):

Complaint

An excerpt:

Spokane County, Washington (“County”) brings this action seeking review of and relief from a June 15, 2015 decision by the Department of the Interior (“Department”) approving a proposal by the Spokane Tribe of Indians to build its third casino directly below Fairchild Air Force Base’s (“Fairchild AFB”) VFR traffic pattern for Fairchild’s primary runway. The Department’s determination that this casino will not be detrimental to the surrounding community violates federal statutes governing such decisions, overrides the opposition of the vast majority of officials elected to represent the interests of the surrounding community, is belied by the record evidence and long-standing agency policy, and defies basic common sense.

Second Circuit Rejects MGM Challenge to Connecticut Gaming Law

Here are the materials in MGM Resorts International v. Malloy:

CA2 Opinion

MGM Brief

Connecticut Brief

Reply

Nooksack Casino Closes after NIGC Issues NOV

Here is the NOV. NIGC presser here.

News coverage here and here.

DOI Consultation Notice on DOI Reorganization

Download(PDF): Tribal Listening Sessions on E.O. 13871: Reorganization of the Executive Branch

Acting Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, Michael S. Black, invites Tribal leaders to attend one of the listed listening sessions to provide input on improving “efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability” at the Department of the Interior.

DATES

Sixth Circuit Materials in Saginaw Chippewa Effort to Intervene in Bay Mills Indian Community v. Snyder

Here:

Saginaw Chippewa Motion to Expedite

Michigan Response

CA6 Order Denying Motion to Expedite

Saginaw Chippewa Opening Brief

BMIC Answer Brief

Michigan Answer Brief

SCIT Reply

Lower court materials here.

First Guilty Plea in Winnebago Tribal Council Embezzlement Indictments

Here are the materials so far in United States v. Blackhawk (D. Neb.):

1 Indictments

129 Payer Plea Agreement

Tribal Appellate Court Affirms Immunity Defense in Comanche Gaming Dispute

Here is the opinion in CDST-Gaming v. Comanche Nation (Ct. Indian Appeals):

CDST Gaming v. Comanche Nation

Lower court decision here.

Related posts here, here, and here.

Dakota Gaming Patron’s Privacy Act Complaint Dismissed

Here are the materials in Block v. Dakota Nation Gaming Commission (D.S.D.):

1 Complaint

5 Motion to Dismiss

9 DCT Order

Tenth Circuit Strikes Down Part 291 Secretarial Procedures

Here is the opinion in State of New Mexico v. Dept. of Interior.

Briefs here.