A New York Supreme Court justice won't let the Oneida Nation drop its assessment lawsuits unless the tribe agrees to two conditions, The Syracuse Post-Standard reported.

Justice John Grow said the tribe has to agree that the tax assessments being challenged are valid. He said the tribe must agree to pay the assessments without protest even through the tribe signed agreements to pay the taxes.

"That's the way it's going to be," Grow said at a hearing on Thursday, the paper reported, "or it isn't going to be."

The tribe is subject to local taxes because its properties aren't held in trust. The U.S. Supreme Court, in March 2005, ruled that the tribe has to go through the land-into-trust process first.

Get the Story:
Judge refuses to halt nation's lawsuits (The Syracuse Post-Standard 4/7)

Sherrill v. Oneida Nation Decision:
Syllabus | Opinion [Ginsburg] | Concurrence [Souter] | Dissent [Stevens]

Relevant Links:
Oneida Nation, New York - http://www.oneida-nation.net

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