The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals won't hear oral arguments in a case that challenges a Montana regulation that limits hunting on reservations to tribal members.

The court agreed with the state that a hearing wasn't needed to resolve the lawsuit. All of the briefs have been submitted.

The state adopted the regulation to prevent litigation that might arise on every reservation, an assistant Montana attorney general said. "We don't have jurisdiction over Indians on the reservations, but we do have jurisdiction over nonmembers," Sarah Bond told The Billings Gazette.

Randy V. Roberts, a non-Indian, wants to hunt on his mother's fee land on the reservation. He claims the regulation is unconstitutional and is being represented by Mountain States Legal Foundation.

Get the Story:
Lawsuit challenges hunting regulation (The Billings Gazette 7/16)

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9th Circuit considers Indian hunting law in Montana (7/15)