The Oneida Nation of New York is back in court today to seek the dismissal of lawsuits over property taxes.

The tribe sued more than 20 municipalities in two counties after being hit with property tax bills. The tribe wants the cases dismissed, although the municipalities want a final decision in their favor.

The tribe hasn't paid property taxes on land it bought within its former reservation. But the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the tribe has to go through the land-into-trust process before claiming sovereign rights.

The tribe has reached agreements with some municipalities to pay the tax bills pending the resolution of the tribe's land-into-trust application for more than 17,000 acres in the Madison and Oneida counties. A decision could be made in 2007.

Get the Story:
Oneidas' bid to drop suits returning to court today (The Syracuse Post-Standard 6/2)

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

Relevant Links:
Indian Nation Fee-to-Trust Land Acquisition Applications in New York State - http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/ogc/lands.html
Oneida Nation, New York - http://www.oneida-nation.net

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