Update in Northern Arapaho Suit re: Eagle Act and RFRA

Northern Arapaho has moved for judgment on the pleadings in its suit challenging the Fish and Wildlife Service’s administration of the Eagle Acts:

Northern Arapaho Motion for Judgment on Pleadings

Their complaint is here.

Eastern Shoshone Allowed to Participate in Northern Arapaho Eagle Permit Suit

AP story is here.

Previous post is here.

Eastern Shoshone Moves to Enter N. Arapaho Eagle Suit against FWS as Amicus in Opposition

Here:

Eastern Shoshone Motion for Amicus Status

Northern Arapaho Tribe’s Amended Complaint Regarding Eagle Permit

This Amended Complaint (from March 30th) is related to the previous post here. An excerpt from the complaint’s Preliminary Statement reads:

This action seeks to protect the traditional religious rights and freedoms of the Tribe and its members. Those rights include the limited taking of an eagle for traditional religious purposes of the Tribe. For two and a half years, Defendants failed or refused to issue a federal permit to allow the taking of an eagle by members of the Northern Arapaho Tribe for traditional Native American religious purposes. The denial placed members of the Tribe at risk of criminal prosecution for the taking of an eagle pursuant to their rights under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (“RFRA”), other federal laws, and the laws of the Tribe.

Northern Arapaho Code Title 13 Freedom of Religion can be found here.

As of last week, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department was reviewing whether or not the Northern Arapaho Tribe would require state permission under the permit. That article is here.

Eagle Permit Issued to Northern Arapaho Tribe Called a “Sham”

Previous post about the permit is here.

The Northern Arapaho Tribe filed an amended lawsuit yesterday. The AP article (via boston.com) is here.

Federal Permit to Take Bald Eagles Issued to Northern Arapaho Tribe

A first for a tribe. AP story here.

 

Arizona Bald Eagle Delisting – Center for Biological Diversity v. Kempthorne

The DCT for the District of the Arizona granted summary judgment to the plaintiffs challenging the Department of Interior’s delisting of the bald eagle in Arizona. Here is the Center for Biological Diversity’s press release. Several tribes participated as amici.

Here are the legal materials:

DCT Order

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