The U.S. Supreme Court has asked the Department of Justice for its views on Madison County v. Oneida Indian Nation, a land dispute involving the Oneida Nation of New York.

Madison County and Oneida County are asking the court to declare that the tribe's reservation has been diminished. The determination would affect land-into-trust, taxation, sovereignty and other issues.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor didn't take part on consideration of the petition, according to the Supreme Court's order list. She sat on the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, which has heard land disputes involving the Oneida Nation for decades.

Get the Story:
Supreme Court postpones decision on Oneida case (The Utica Observer-Dispatch 2/19)
U.S. Supreme Court wants more information before deciding whether to hear Oneida Indian case (The Syracuse Post-Standard 2/19)

2nd Circuit Decisions:
Oneida Nation v. Madison County (October 20, 2011)
Oneida Nation v. Madison County and Oneida County (April 27, 2010)

Sherrill v. Oneida Nation Supreme Court Decision:
Syllabus | Opinion [Ginsburg] | Concurrence [Souter] | Dissent [Stevens]

Related Stories:
Supreme Court to consider petition in Oneida Nation land case (2/14)
Supreme Court asked to review Oneida Nation land dispute (01/28)