Judge supports Oneida Nation land-into-trust
A federal judge in New York rejected a slew of challenges to the Oneida Nation's land-into-trust application.

Judge Lawrence E. Kahn said the land-into-trust provisions of the Indian Reorganization Act do not violate the U.S. Constitution. He upheld the legality of the tribe's Turning Stone Resort and Casino and the recent transfer of surplus military land to the tribe.

The rulings came in a series of lawsuits filed by the state of New York and several municipalities. They were filed after the Interior Department said it planned to acquire around 13,000 acres in trust for the tribe.

Kahn has not ruled on the legality of the proposed acquisition, which has not reached a final agency decision at Interior.

Get the Story:
Judge rules for Oneida Indian Nation in trust case (The Syracuse Post-Standard 9/29)
Nation wins several trust land suits (The Oneida Dispatch 9/29)
Several land-into-trust challenges denied (The Utica Observer-Dispatch 9/30)

Court Decisions:
New York v. Salazar | Verona v. Salazar | Oneida v. Salazar

Related Stories:
EchoHawk to discuss Oneida Nation land transfer (07/22)
New cutoff in land-into-trust litigation is 1983 (06/25)
Court hearing for Oneida Nation land-into-trust (6/23)
Deal with Oneida Nation dies amid opposition (5/22)
Opinion: Oneida Nation threatens Congressman Arcuri (5/20)
Opinion: Better deal needed for Oneida land-into-trust (5/19)
Opinion: Oneida Nation deal a step backward (5/13)
Oneida Nation land-into-trust deal needs state action (5/12)
Deal proposed over Oneida Nation land-into-trust (5/11)
Oneida Nation and county near land-into-trust deal (5/8)