The Oneida Nation of New York has until May 16 to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to hear its land claim.

The tribe has been given two extensions to file the petition, according to the docket sheet. It's not clear whether another extension will be requested.

The tribe is suing over 250,000 acres that were illegally taken by the state of New York. The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals killed the claim and essentially said the tribe waited too long to sue.

Separately, the tribe is funding a lawsuit that accuses the attorney for Madison County, one of the defendants in the land claim, of profiting from litigation involving the tribe. According to the tribe, John Campanie has received more than $800,000 in compensation from Nixon Peabody, the law firm that represents the county in the land claim.

The compensation is in addition to the salary he is paid as county attorney, a public position.

Get the Story:
May 23 filing date set for Oneida Nation lawsuit against Madison County attorney John Campanie (The Oneida Dispatch 5/3)

2nd Circuit Decision:
Oneida Nation v. Oneida County/Madison County (August 9, 2010)

Related Stories:
Oneida Nation accuses attorney of benefiting from lawsuits (4/13)
Law firm seeks money for efforts on Oneida Nation land claim (3/31)
Oneida Nation 'of course' plans to appeal decision on land claim (8/11)
Turtle Talk: Oneida Nation ruling kills Eastern tribal land claims (8/10)
New York counties celebrate ruling in Oneida Nation land claim (8/10)
2nd Circuit rules against Oneida Nation in long running land case (8/9)