Appeals court to hear Cherokee Freedmen case
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Filed Under:
Law
The
D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals is holding oral arguments this morning in
Vann v. Kempthorne, the Cherokee Freedmen case
The Freedmen are the descendants of former African slaves. They are suing the
Interior Department to force the federal government to recognize an 1866 treaty in which their ancestors were made citizens of the
Cherokee Nation.
The Cherokee Nation was drawn into the suit by a federal judge who said the treaty and the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which outlawed slavery, abrogated tribal sovereign immunity. The tribe says it can't be sued without its consent.
Today's hearing is before
Judge David
S. Tatel, a Clinton nominee,
Judge Merrick
B. Garland, a Clinton nominee, and
Judge Thomas
B. Griffith, a Bush nominee.
Cherokee-Related Legislation:
H.R.2786
|
H.R.2895
|
H.R.2824
|
H.R.3002
BIA Letters:
August
9, 2007 |
July
11, 2007 |
June
22, 2007 |
May 21, 2007 |
March 28, 2007 |
August 30, 2006
Sovereign Immunity Court Decision:
Vann v. Kempthorne (December 19,
2006)
Cherokee Nation Judicial Appeals Tribunal Decision in Freedmen
Case:
Allen
v. Cherokee Nation (March 7, 2006)
Related Stories:
Campbell: Congress destroying the Cherokee
Nation (5/2)
Artman's tenure
marked by Freedmen dispute (4/30)
Artman
resigns after a year as head of BIA (4/29)
Opinion: Cherokee Nation's boat of federal funds
(4/25)
Cherokee Freedmen dispute a
threat to NAHASDA (4/24)
Opinion: The
history of the Cherokee Freedmen (4/23)
Rep. Frank backs Freedmen in Cherokee funding fight
(4/22)
Freedmen issue weighs heavy on
Capitol Hill (4/14)
Tim Giago: CBC goes
after Cherokee Nation (4/14)
Cherokee
tribes denounce Freedmen legislation (4/10)
Cherokee chief to address Freedmen at conference
(4/7)
Black lawmakers press Senate on
Freedmen (4/4)
Cherokee Freedmen dispute
up for hearing (3/27)
Opinion: Being
Cherokee more than the blood (3/26)
Lawmakers press Artman on Freedmen issues
(3/19)
Freedmen protest outside of Rep.
Boren's office (3/3)
Black lawmakers to
meet with Artman over Freedmen (1/23)
Copyright © Indianz.Com