Kemp v. Osage Nation Cert Petition

Here, the Oklahoma Tax Commission is seeking review of a CA10 decision allowing a suit brought by the Osage Nation to proceed over sovereign immunity objections. Here is our post about the CA10 decision, with briefs and other materials. And here is the cert petition.

Here are the questions presented (from the petition):

1. May federal courts employ the doctrine of Ex parte Young, 209 U.S. 123 (1908), to permit suits by Indian tribes, otherwise barred by state sovereign immunity, that seek to establish sovereignty and jurisdiction over historical reservations, without taking into consideration the substantial impact of the relief on the sovereignty and jurisdiction long-exercised over such lands by states?

2. In view of this Court’s ruling in Idaho v. Coeur d’Alene Tribe of Idaho, 521 U.S. 261 (1997), and other decisions, may a federal court allow an Indian tribe’s suit – otherwise barred by the Eleventh Amendment – to proceed against state officers under the so-called “straightforward inquiry” used to determine the application of the Ex parte Young exception, when the relief would divest a state of substantial and long-exercised civil and criminal jurisdiction over its largest county?

3. Does a suit by an Indian tribe seeking a judicial determination that its historical reservation “remains” a present-day reservation involve the type of retrospective relief that cannot be pursued against state officers under the Ex parte Young exception to state sovereign immunity?

Samish Indian Tribe v US — DCT Dismisses for Lack of Jurisdiction

This case may harbor some bad news for Michigan tribes who had been administratively terminated and still hoping to be able to recover for the years that the federal government illegally failed to provide services.

samish-second-amended-complaint

us-motion-to-dismiss-samish-complaint

samish-report-on-why-discovery-should-be-permitted

us-supplement-brief-re-motion-to-dismiss

samish-response-to-us-supplemental-brief

us-reply-brief

dct-opinion-in-samish-v-us

CA10 Affirms Dismissal of Leadership Challenge at Ute Indian Tribe

The case is Wopsock v Natchees. The opinion is unpublished.

wopsock-v-natchees-appellant-brief

wopsock-v-natchees-federal-brief

wopsock-v-natchees-tribal-brief

wopsock-v-natchees-ca10-opinion

Vann v. Kempthorne D.C Circuit Oral Argument Scheduled

The oral argument is scheduled for May 6, 2008, before Circuit Judges Tatel, Garland, and Griffith.

Here is the order.

Marceau v. Blackfeet Housing Authority — Rehearing

As reported on Indianz, the CA9 issued a revised opinion in this matter. Here are the briefs:

Opening Brief

US Appellee Brief

CSKT Appellee Brief

Reply Brief

Original CA9 Opinion

Petition for Rehearing

CSKT Petition

Serrano v. US (S.D. Fla.) — Dismissal of FTCA Claim Against US/Tribal Employee

This case appears to be about a fundamental misunderstanding of how the Federal Tort Claims Act applies to tribal employees, or not. Serrano argued that any tribal employee working for a tribe with a self-determination contract was covered. Not so.

Complaint

US Motion to Dismiss

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Hinsley v. Standing Rock C.P.S. (CA8) — Federal Tort Claims Act

Apparently, persons covered by the Federal Tort Claims Act retain immunity from suit by exercising their “discretion” to place children with alleged child molesters without warning the parents. Hinsely v. Standing Rock Child Protective Services (CA8)

Here are the briefs:

Hinsley Appellant Brief

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Lost “Indian Law” Article by Justice Scalia

Kate Fort dug this up — it’s a Michigan Law Review article from then-Professor Scalia on federal sovereign immunity in the context of public lands cases, pre-APA. Most of the cases he discusses involving Indian lands. His aversion to federal common law is apparent at the end of the article.

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Republic of Philippines v. Pimentel — Indian Law Issues?

Well, not really, but this case, which the Supreme Court granted cert. on Dec. 3, involves the application of the necessary and indispensable party doctrine of Rule 19 to sovereigns (especially sovereigns raising sovereign immunity). Interestingly, a large portion (even perhaps a majority) of the cases cited in the cert. petitions and opps involve the application of Rule 19 to tribal sovereigns.

From SCOTUSBlog:

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Wash. Court of Appeals — Dram Shop Actions and Tribal Sovereign Immunity

The Washington Court of Appeals recently decided Foxworthy v. Puyallup Tribe of Indians, a dram shop tort claim against a tribal business enterprise. The Court held that the Puyallup tribe hadn’t waived its immunity in state court.

The opinion was out, but is missing online at the moment. When I get a nice, clean pdf I’ll put it up. It is on Westlaw, etc.

The plaintiff’s brief is here: Foxworthy Opening Brief

The tribe’s response is here: Puyallup Response Brief

The plaintiff’s reply is here: Foxworthy Reply Brief