A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit that sought to determine whether parts of Fremont County, Wyoming, are Indian Country.

The Northern Arapaho Tribe said parts of the county are part of the Wind River Reservation. But Judge Clarence A. Brimmer said the case could not proceed without the involvement of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe and the United States.

But since the tribe and the federal government enjoy sovereign immunity, they can't be joined without their consent, Brimmer ruled. "Every opportunity was given to flesh out the availability for this suit to go forward. However, neither the EST nor the United States is willing to waive immunity and the court finds that this case cannot proceed without them," he wrote, The Riverton Range reported.

Both tribes, in the past, have said Riverton, a border town, and parts of the county are part of the reservation. The issue gained prominence when an Arapaho man said the state lacked jurisdiction to prosecute him for murdering his daughter because he said Riverton is Indian Country.

The state courts rejected the argument, saying Riverton was allotted to non-Indians through an act of Congress.

Get the Story:
Judge dismisses tribe vs. county boundary suit (The Riverton Ranger 10/8)
Judge Dismisses Northern Arapaho Tribe's Suit (AP 10/8)

Related Stories:
City wants to join Northern Arapaho lawsuit (10/10)
Border city might join Northern Arapaho lawsuit (10/6)
Northern Arapaho Tribe files Indian Country suit (10/2)