Update in Federal Trespass Action at Makah (U.S. v. Ray)

The federal court, after ordering the United States DOJ to exhaust tribal court remedies (an order that apparently made the government’s attorneys ornery), granting partial summary judgment to the government.

Here are the new materials in United States v. Ray (W.D. Wash.):

DCT Order Granting Partial Summary J

US Motion for Partial Summary J

US Motion to Lift Stay

And the Makah tribal court materials:

Makah Tribal Court Order

US Petition for Determination of Makah Tribal Law

The post on the federal court’s requirement that the government seek a tribal court determination of tribal law is here.

The underlying complaint is here.

Government Reply Brief in United States v. Ray Motion for Reconsideration

Here:

US Reply in Ray

Well, the government tempered its complaint about having to go to the federal court by citing the government’s trust duties under United States v. Jicarilla Apache Nation. Seems to be an enormous amount of confusion. Jicarilla is a backdoor repudiation of the trust relationship, not the strong directive to protect tribal property. Whatever.

Earlier materials are here.

US Motion for Reconsideration in Remand to Makah Tribal Court of Federal Trespass Case

Here is the underlying order, in which the federal court remanded a federal government effort to prosecute trespass on an Indian allotment to the Makah Tribal Court.

The government, extremely unwilling to go to tribal court, seeks reconsideration of the federal court order. Here are the materials:

US Motion for Reconsideration in Ray

Ray Opposition to Motion for Reconsideration

The government brief concludes with this unfortunate (unusual) footnote:

Not insignificantly, the United States also asks this Court to consider the practical effect of its Order. If its Order stands, to protect trust property on Indian land, government attorneys — currently required only to have an active membership in one bar — potentially will have to join the 25 tribal bars in the Western District of Washington and learn 25 different rules of court procedure. Even a cursory review of the tribal codes for these tribes shows that this would be no small feat. As a 1992 tribal court procedural handbook for federally-recognized tribes in Washington State states, “fundamental differences are evident. First there is no consistency between the courts from tribe to tribe. Each tribe operates its own courts using its own code and procedures. Thus, a practitioner must be familiar with the unique scope and procedures of each tribal court in which she practices.” Ralph Johnson & Rachael Paschal, Tribal Court Handbook for the 26 Federally Recognized Tribes in Washington State at I (2d ed., 1992) (available at http:// http://www.msaj.com/papers/handbook.htm). Imposing such requirements on government attorneys will impact materially and adversely the federal government’s ability to exercise its trust responsibilities and protect trust lands.

Just to help out the government, here is a tribal court directory, available on the Washington courts website.

And here is the Makah tribal court code.

Federal Govt. Effort to Enforce Trespass Law on Makah Allotment Sent to Tribal Court

Here are the materials in United States v. Ray (W.D. Wash.):

Ray Motion to Dismiss

US Opposition & Motion to Dismiss

Ray Reply

DCT Order Staying Ray Case