SCOTUS Denies Cert in Cases Involving Keetoowah Trust Lands and Klamath River Water Rights

Here is the order list.

The cases denied were Cherokee Nation v. Bernhardt and Baley v. United States.

Cert Petition by Western Ranchers and Farmers Challenging Reserved Water Rights [updated]

Here is the petition in Bales v. United States:

baley-cert-petition.pdf

Question presented:

Whether, against the legal backdrop of Congress’s and this Court’s recognition of the primacy of state law to determine, quantify, and administer water rights, a federal court may deem federal agency regulatory action under the Endangered Species Act to constitute the adjudication and administration of water rights for tribal purposes.

Lower court materials here.

Update:

05142020-1 PacificCoastFedFishermen Opposition Brief

OpposBriefUSA-20200514173954985_19-1134 Baley

Federal Circuit Decides Baley v. United States [Indian reserved water rights to Klamath River water predate farmers]

Here is the opinion.

Here are the briefs:

baley-opening-brief.pdf

us-brief.pdf

baley-reply-brief.pdf

hoopa-amicus-brief.pdf

klamath-tribe-amicus-brief.pdf

yurok-tribe-amicus-brief.pdf

indian-law-professors-brief.pdf

nrdc-brief.pdf

oregon-amicus-brief.pdf

pacific-coast-federation-of-fishermen-brief.pdf