The U.S. Supreme Court is being asked to determine whether the Mille Lacs Reservation in Minnesota continues to exist.

Mille Lacs County and a private bank contend at least 61,000 acres of the reservation has been diminished. They say the reservation is no more than 4,000 acres.

The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the county and the bank. The court said both parties lacked standing and failed to show any danger from the tribe exercising authority over the reservation.

Initial briefs have been filed before the Supreme Court. The case is being distributed for a conference on October 29. The justices will then announce the following week whether they will hear the case.

Get the Story:
Bank remains firm on appeal to the Supreme Court (The Mille Lacs Messenger 10/20)

Court Documents:
Supreme Court Docket Sheet | Decision in Mille Lacs v. Benjamin (March 9, 2004) | Denial of Rehearing (May 19, 2004) | Audio of Oral Arguments (October 24, 2003)

Relevant Links:
Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe - http://www.millelacsojibwe.org
NCAI/NARF Supreme Court Project - http://doc.narf.org/millelacsvbenjamin/index.html

Related Stories:
Court won't rehear challenge to tribal land base (05/21)
Minn. tribe wins another round in reservation dispute (03/10)