Law

Supreme Court to consider motion in Cayuga Nation land case


A view of the U.S. Supreme Court. File Photo © Indianz.Com

The U.S. Supreme Court will consider a motion this week in a land case involving the Cayuga Nation of New York.

In July, the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Seneca County could not sue the tribe for failing to pay taxes on properties that are not currently in trust. The ruling relied on the Supreme Court's decision in Michigan v. Bay Mills Indian Community, a sovereign immunity case.

The county planned to appeal but the law firm that was handling the case failed to file a petition with the Supreme Court on time. So the justices are being asked to rule on a motion that would allow the county to proceed.

The motion will be considered at a closed-door conference this Friday, according to a docket sheet. Similar motions that have been filed in other cases are almost always denied.

Turtle Talk has posted documents from the 2nd Circuit case, Cayuga Nation v. Seneca County.

2nd Circuit Court of Appeals Decision:
Cayuga Nation v. Seneca County (July 31, 2014)

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