The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear an appeal of a Wyoming man who killed a bald eagle without federal approval.

Without comment, the justices denied a petition in US v. Friday. That means Winslow Friday, a member of the Northern Arapaho Tribe , faces up to a year in jail and a $100,000 fine for killing the eagle.

Friday shot the eagle for use in the Sun Dance ceremony. The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals said he should have applied for a permit or sought eagle parts from the National Eagle Repository.

Friday argued that the both avenues infringed on his religious freedoms. Only four permits have been granted to take an eagle and it can take years to receive parts from the repository.

Get the Story:
US Supreme Court denies appeal in Wyo. eagle case (AP 2/24)

Relevant Documents:
10th Circuit Decision: US v. Friday | NCAI-NARF Supreme Court Project

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