The U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in the Oneida Nation's land case could impact other tribes with land claims, observers say.

The tribe's claim isn't at issue in the case but the justices asked questions about it because the city of Sherrill and the state of New York argued that the tribe lost sovereignty on certain lands. Previously, the high court ruled that the tribe could seek damages for the loss of those lands in questionable transactions with the state.

The justices also asked questions about the status of land the tribe reacquires. Several other tribes, notably the Cayuga Nation of New York and the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma, are asserting sovereignty on ancestral land they recently purchased.

A ruling is expected later this year.

Get the Story:
Sides confident after Supreme Court hears city-tribe tax dispute (AP 1/12)
Top justices' questions frame Sherrill case (The Utica Observer-Dispatch 1/12)

Relevant Documents:
Briefs | Docket Sheet No. 03-855

Relevant Links:
Oneida Nation - http://www.oneida-nation.net
NARF-NCAI Tribal Supreme Court Project - http://doc.narf.org/sc/index.html

Decision in Oneida Indian Nation v. City of Sherrill:
Majority Opinion | Van Graafeiland Dissent

Decision in Cayuga Indian Nation v. Village of Union Springs:
Decision | Order (April 23, 2004)

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