![](https://www.indianz.com/IndianGaming/2016/10/31/ilanicasinoresort103116.jpg)
Construction is progressing quickly on the Cowlitz Tribe's casino in Washington. Photo from ilani Casino Resort Construction Feed The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde won't be taking an Indian gaming case to the U.S. Supreme Court after all. Grande Ronde leaders voted in August to ask the nation's highest court to stop the Cowlitz Tribe from opening a new casino in neighboring Washington. But they have since changed their minds, Smoke Signals, the tribe's newspaper, reported. “Grand Ronde has elected not to appeal the Cowlitz case to the U.S. Supreme Court,” Justin Martin, a tribal member and attorney, told Smoke Signals. “Although La Center is outside the historic lands of the Cowlitz Tribe, Grand Ronde has decided to direct its current resources to completing the remodeling of Spirit Mountain Casino on its Reservation and future resources to the development of projects in Grand Ronde’s homelands and around Portland." The tribe joins the city of Vancouver and Clark County in dropping out of the case. The only opponents remaining are non-Indian card clubs and non-Indian groups and they haven't said whether they will pursue the appeal. At issue is the Supreme Court's decision in Carcieri v. Salazar. In that February 2009 case, the justices said the Bureau of Indian Affairs can only approve land-into-trust applications for tribes that were "under federal jurisdiction" in 1934. The Cowlitz didn't gain formal recognition until 2000. But the BIA determined that the tribe met the "federal jurisdiction" standard based on treaty negotiations and other federal actions. Casino opponents claimed otherwise but the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against them on July 29. The decision, which represented a huge victory for the tribe and the BIA, was unanimous. The tribe plans to open the ilani Casino Resort on April 17, 2017. It will be the closest Indian gaming facility to Portland, Oregon. Read More on the Story:
Grand Ronde ends legal challenges to Cowlitz Reservation (Smoke Signals 10/27) D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Decision:
Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon v. Jewell (July 29, 2016) Department of the Interior Solicitor Opinion:
M-37029: The Meaning of "Under Federal Jurisdiction" for Purposes of the Indian Reorganization Act (March 12, 2014)
Join the Conversation
Related Stories
Cowlitz
Tribe spends $32M for highway project at new casino (10/27) Cowlitz Tribe announces more executives for fast-rising casino (10/20)
Grand Ronde Tribes still working on plans at former racetrack (09/21)
Tribes clash over new casino but agree on #NoDAPL movement (09/20)
Grand Ronde Tribes ask Supreme Court to hear casino land case (09/13)
Grand Ronde Tribes might stand alone in battle against new casino (08/22)
Grand Ronde Tribes keep battling Cowlitz Tribe's casino in court (8/17)
Grand Ronde Tribes plan hotel and won't rule out casino at new site (08/01)
Cowlitz Tribe wins major court ruling on land-into-trust application (07/29)
Cowlitz Tribe announces name in Salish language for fast-rising casino (06/21)
Oregon tribe funds suit against Cowlitz Tribe's fast-rising casino (6/20)
Cowlitz Tribe on track to open long-awaited casino in 10 months (6/17)
Cowlitz Tribe announces more hires for casino management team (06/08)
Cowlitz Tribe welcomes discussions with opponent for casino (05/25)
Cowlitz Tribe in discussions with county about stance on casino (5/18)
Cowlitz Tribe reporting significant progress on fast-rising casino (5/17)
Cowlitz Tribe hosted Donald Trump to discuss his interest in casino (5/9)
Cowlitz Tribe hosts forums on casino construction and related work (5/5)
Cowlitz Tribe aims to hire locals as casino construction continues (5/2)
Grand Ronde Tribes still weighing plans at site of former racetrack (04/14)
Cowlitz Tribe accuses county of threatening casino site workers (04/08)
Appeals court in D.C. hears closely watched land-into-trust case (03/18)
Cowlitz Tribe faces unusual opposition to casino wastewater plant (03/07)
Opponents of Cowlitz Tribe ask judge to put a stop to casino work (3/4)
Cowlitz Tribe and city reach long-awaited agreement for casino (3/2)
Cowlitz Tribe included waiver of immunity in old casino agreement (3/1)
Cowlitz Tribe won't stop working on casino despite county threat (2/29)
Cowlitz Tribe starts hiring process for long-awaited casino resort (2/25)
Cowlitz Tribe celebrates start of construction on $500M casino (02/15)
Cowlitz Tribe close to reaching agreement with city for new casino (2/5)
Donald Trump once claimed IGRA and tribal casinos were illegal (01/29)
Cowlitz Tribe plans to debut long-awaited casino in spring of 2017 (01/27)
Republican lawmaker questions Cowlitz Tribe's gaming project (01/22)
Cowlitz Tribe turned down Donald Trump for gaming partnership (10/05)