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Friday, December 5, 2003

The town of Aquinnah, Massachusetts, will hold a public hearing to decide whether to appeal a ruling favoring the Wampanoag Tribe.

A superior court judge ruled that the tribe is immune from lawsuit. He said the town can't force the tribe to comply with local zoning laws.

The decision is controversial because the federal law that settled the tribe's land claims also subjected tribal lands to state jurisdiction. Residents are urging the town to join an appeal of the case.

Get the Story:
Public Hearing Set for Monday on Appeal of Sovereignty Case (The Vineyard Gazette 12/5)

Earlier Decision:
Mass. court upholds Wampanoag Tribe's sovereignty (11/06)
Town of Aquinnah v. Gay Head Wampanoag Tribe (June 11, 2003)

Related Stories:
Dershowitz: Judge may be wrong on Wampanoag case (07/22)
Mass. town argues for jurisdiction over tribe (7/21)
Mass. judge asked to reconsider sovereignty ruling (06/24)
Mass. court affirms tribe's sovereignty (6/18)
Mass. tribe argues for sovereign rights on land (02/14)

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