Update: Oral Argument Transcript

The U.S. Supreme Court today will hear the long-running Navajo Nation breach of trust lawsuit.

The tribe sued the federal government over a coal lease with Peabody Energy. The tribe said it was forced to accept a lower royalty rate due to misdeeds by former Interior Department officials.

The Federal Circuit Court of Appeals has twice sided with the tribe. The first victory was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2003.

Today's hearing focuses on the second victory. At issue is whether Interior owed a fiduciary duty to the tribe under a set of laws and regulations.

The Supreme Court will post a transcript of the argument later today.

Get the Story:
Navajo coal royalty case heads to Supreme Court (AP 2/23)

Supreme Court Documents:
Docket Sheet: No. 07-1410 | Brief: Former Interior Secretaries | Brief: New Mexico, Arizona and Utah | Brief: Law Professors | More: NCAI-NARF Tribal Supreme Court Project

Federal Circuit Decision:
Navajo Nation v. US (September 13, 2007)

March 2003 Supreme Court Decision in US v. Navajo Nation:
Syllabus | Opinion [Ginsburg] | Dissent [Souter]

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