Long Conference Update: SCOTUS Denies Cert in a Several Indian Law Cases

Here is yesterday’s order list.

1. The Court denied cert in Acres v. Marston, part of a longstanding — and by now patently ridiculous — effort by a nonmember to punish an Indian tribe’s employees for working at the tribe. The petition is here (the respondent’s waived the right to respond):

2. The Court also denied cert in Mill Bay Members Assn. v. United States, another petition related to a longstanding effort by nonmembers to punish an Indian tribe for existing, this time by suing the federal government. The petition is here (the government waived the right to respond):

3. The Court also denied cert in Becker v. Ute Indian Tribe, a case about tribal exhaustion with a plausible, if weak, circuit split — perhaps, again, because this is a longstanding, ridiculous dispute between a nonmember and tribe (both sides ridiculous this time). The cert stage briefs are here.

4. The Court, finally, denied cert in Quaempts v. Lopez, an unremarkable sovereign immunity matter.

Having fun with DALL-E: “Darth Vader arguing with a tribal judge about fish.”

UM and MSU Students Visit LTBB Rez

Eric Hemenway addressing students near the site of Holy Childhood Indian boarding school in Harbor Springs.
At the Council of Trees near Greensky Hill Indian Mission.
The old cemetery at Greensky (church in the background).

Arizona Federal Court Dismisses Navajo Suit Challenging Implementation of Navajo-Hopi Settlement Act of 1974 [updated]

Here are the materials in Navajo Nation v. Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation (D. Ariz.):

Updated materials:

36 First Amended Complaint

43 Motion to Dismiss

The Arizona Journal of Environmental Law and Policy – Call for Submissions

The Arizona Journal of Environmental Law and Policy at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law are taking submissions for upcoming issues. They are specifically seeking out articles and comments focused on indigenous issues and particularly the intersection of environmental/natural resource/energy/water law with federal Indian law and international Indigenous human rights law. Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis.

D.C. Federal Court Rejects Kialegee Claim to Sovereignty Independent of Muscogee Creek Nation

Here are the materials in Kialegee Tribal Town v. Dept. of the Interior (D.D.C.):

South Dakota Federal Court Rejects Federal Effort to End Suit against Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe

Here are the materials in Roeman v. United States (D.S.D.):

2022 Native Language Summit

Join the Bureau of Indian Education in Oklahoma City on October 4th for the 2022 Native Language Summit. Experts will be leading discussions on integrating Native language instruction into educational settings and strengthening community consultation around Native languages.

Register here.

California Indian Law Association’s 22nd Annual California Indian Law Conference

Join the California Indian Law Association for CILA’s 22nd Annual Conference at Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, October 2-4, 2022. Space is limited – register now. Live-stream option will be available.