D.C. Federal Court Rejects Sault Tribe’s Third Effort to Force Interior to Acquire Land for Off-Rez Gaming

Here is the order in Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians v. Haaland (D.D.C.):

Briefs here.

Parties Renew Motions for Summary Judgment in Sault Tribe Bid for Detroit-Area Casino

Here are the new materials in Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians v. Haaland (formerly Bernhardt, Zinke, etc.) (D.D.C.):

Time to rumble.

103 Federal Reply

104 Tribes Reply

This case is on remand from the D.C. Circuit.

Sault Tribe En Banc Petition in Trust Land Acquisition Case

Here is the petition in Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians v. Haaland:

Panel stage materials here.

Saint Mary’s [i.e. Sault Sainte Marie] Canal celebration, reviewing stand and Indian village

Split D.C. Circuit Rules against Sault Tribe in Mandatory Trust Acquisition Appeal [“shall” does not mean “shall”]

Here is the opinion in Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians v. Haaland.

Briefs here.

For commentary on legal analysis by reading the dictionary, see Joseph Kimball’s work on the Michigan Supreme Court’s use of dictionaries.

National Archives

Cert Petition Filed in Challenge to Wilton Rancheria Lands Case

Here is the petition in Stand Up for California! v. Dept. of the Interior:

SUFC! Petition

Question presented:

Whether the Secretary can acquire land in trust on behalf of Indians whose federal supervision was terminated by Congress.

Lower court materials here.

D.C. Circuit Affirms Stand Up for California! v. Dept. of Interior [Wilton Rancheria]

Here is the opinion.

An excerpt:

This appeal comes after a seven year effort by the Department of the Interior (“Department”) to acquire land in trust on behalf of the Wilton Rancheria (“Wilton” or “Tribe”) to build a casino. After the Department finalized the acquisition of a parcel of land in Elk Grove, California, Stand Up for California! (“Stand Up”), Patty Johnson, Joe Teixeira, and Lynn Wheat (collectively “Appellants”) sued the Department. They brought a litany of claims, including claims that the Department (1) impermissibly delegated the authority to make a final agency action to acquire the land to an official who could not wield this authority, (2) was barred from acquiring land in trust on behalf of Wilton’s members, and (3) failed to adhere to its National Environmental Protection Act obligations when it selected the Elk Grove location. Appellants and the Department cross moved for summary judgment, and the District Court granted the Department’s motions on all counts. For the reasons set forth below, we affirm the District Court.

Briefs here.

Federal Court Dismisses Remaining Comanche Claims against US over Chickasaw Casino

Here are the materials in Comanche Nation of Oklahoma v. de la Vega [formerly Zinke, then Bernhardt, and now should be Haaland] (W.D. Okla.):

106-1 Second Amended Complaint

113 Motion to Dismiss

120 Response

123 Reply

124 DCT Order

Prior posts here, here, and here.

D.C. Circuit Briefs in Sault Tribe Mandatory Trust Land Acquisition Dispute

Here are the briefs (so far) in Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians v. Bernhardt:

US Opening Brief

Nottawaseppi Huron Band Potawatomi + Saginaw Chippewa Brief

Detroit Casinos Brief

Sault Tribe Brief

Law Prof Amicus Brief

Detroit Casinos Reply

Joint Tribal Reply

US Reply

Lower court materials here.

Kansas, Sac and Fox Nation, and Iowa Tribe Sue Interior over Wyandotte Nation Trust Land Acquisition

Here is the complaint in State of Kansas v. Bernhardt (D. Kan.):

1 Complaint

1-2 Secretary’s Decision Letter