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TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2003

An attorney for the California tribe at the center of a Supreme Court case says the court's ruling is not anti-tribal government.

The Bishop Paiute Tribe sued Inyo County after county officials seized tribal casino records using bolt cutters. The tribe said its civil rights and sovereign immunity were violated.

The Supreme Court, in a unanimous ruling yesterday, didn't speak specifically to that point. But it threw out a ruling in the the tribe's favor and said the tribe can't sue the county under federal civil rights law.

The case is Inyo County v. Bishop Paiute Tribe, No. 02-281.

Get the Story:
Tribes Lose Court Ruling (Stephens Media 5/20)
Supreme Court rules tribes can't sue to stop searches (AP 5/19)

Today on Indianz.Com:
Supreme Court rebuffs tribe in immunity case (5/20)

Get the Decision:
Syllabus | Opinion [Ginsburg] | Concurrence [Stevens]

Supreme Court Briefs:
Inyo County v. Bishop Paiute Tribe

Decision Below:
BISHOP PAIUTE TRIBE v. COUNTY OF INYO No. 01-15007 (January 4, 2002)

Relevant Documents:
Docket Sheet: No. 02-281 | Senate Testimony: Monty Bengochia on Supreme Court Precedents

Relevant Links:
Paiute Palace Casino - http://www.paiutepalace.com
Inyo County - http://www.countyofinyo.org

Related Stories:
Supreme Court rules in Inyo County case (5/19)
Case could upset sovereign immunity doctrine (05/12)
Oral argument transcript posted in Inyo County case (04/29)
Supreme Court tussles with tribal sovereignty case (04/01)
Supreme Court case too close to call for some (04/01)
County presses Supreme Court on law enforcement (04/01)
Supreme Court hears sovereignty case (3/31)
Supreme Court panel to discuss Inyo County case (3/31)
Ore. withdraws from states' Supreme Court brief (3/27)
Tribes and states stress cooperation not conflict (02/28)
Tribes enter Supreme Court case (2/25)
Showdown looms in tribal sovereignty case (02/20)
State power over tribal government in dispute (12/03)