The state of Washington plans to use the U.S. Supreme Court's fuel tax decision against tribes, a state assistant attorney general said.

Two weeks ago, a federal judge ruled that Washington's fuel tax law infringes on tribal sovereignty. But state assistant attorney general Mary Tennyson said the Supreme Court's decision provides grounds to reconsider that ruling.

If the judge doesn't reconsider, Tennyson said the state will take the case to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. But an official for the Squaxin Island Tribe, one of two tribes involved in the suit, said the Supreme Court's ruling won't help the state.

Get the Story:
Ruling's effect on state tribes unclear (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer 12/7)

Wagnon v. Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation:
Syllabus | Opinion [Thomas] | Dissent [Ginsburg]

Supreme Court Documents:
Day Call | Docket Sheet | Questions Presented

Court Briefs:
Richard v. Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation (NCAI-NARF Supreme Court Project)

Lower Court Decision:
Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation v. Richards (10th Circuit August 2004)

Relevant Links:
Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation - http://www.pbpindiantribe.com
NARF-NCAI Tribal Supreme Court Project - http://doc.narf.org/sc/index.html
Multistate Tax Commission - http://www.mtc.gov

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