Eva Linton Rehner, the oldest member of the Pala Band of Mission Indians of California, died March 16 of natural causes. She was 95.

Rehner took the state of California to court over her refusal to apply for a liquor license. She owned a store on the Pala Reservation that was licensed by the federal government.

Rehner won her case at the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The court ruled that the state license requirement interfered with tribal sovereignty.

But on appeal, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the decision by a vote of 6-3. In an opinion written by retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the court said liquor regulation was not a "tradition of tribal sovereign immunity or inherent self-government."

Get the Story:
Eva Rehner, 95; Tribal Elder Who Appeared Before Supreme Court (The Los Angeles Times 3/23)
pwday
Eva Rehner; Pala tribal elder once challenged state power (The San Diego Union Tribune 3/21)

Supreme Court Decision:
Rice v. Rehner (July 1, 1983)

Relevant Links:
Pala Band of Mission Indians - http://www.palaindians.com