{"id":21257,"date":"2022-02-21T23:03:31","date_gmt":"2022-02-22T04:03:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/News\/?p=21257"},"modified":"2022-02-22T15:32:16","modified_gmt":"2022-02-22T20:32:16","slug":"supreme-court-hears-cases-with-high-stakes-for-indian-country","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2022\/02\/21\/supreme-court-hears-cases-with-high-stakes-for-indian-country\/","title":{"rendered":"Supreme Court hears cases with high stakes for Indian Country"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9\">\r\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mepzLHD54KE?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">National Congress of American Indians: <a href=https:\/\/youtu.be\/mepzLHD54KE>2022 State of Indian Nations #SOIN #NCAIECWS2022<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n<div class=\"h3-responsive font-weight-bold\">Supreme Court hears cases with high stakes for Indian Country<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"date\">Monday, February 21, 2022<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"byline\">By Acee Agoyo<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"source\">Indianz.Com<\/div>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<strong>Content Note: The second half of this story contains references to domestic violence.<\/strong> \r\n<p><\/p>\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C. &#8212; Amid a high-stakes political battle, the nation&#8217;s highest court is gearing up for some major decisions that will affect Indian Country  for generations to come.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThe <a href=https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/>U.S. Supreme Court<\/a> only has three Indian law cases on the docket for its current term. But they will be the last that are decided with the involvement of <a href=https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Stephen_Breyer>Justice Stephen G. Breyer<\/a>, who is retiring after nearly three decades on the bench.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nBreyer&#8217;s exit has set off a major debate over the makeup of the highest court in the land, with Democrats and Republicans once again at odds over his replacement. But the development also underscores the difficulties that tribes have faced  in judicial forums all over the country\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n&#8220;Tribal nations and tribal communities are impacted by federal laws and courts more so than anyone else,&#8221; <a href=https:\/\/twitter.com\/presfawnsharp>President Fawn Sharp<\/a> of the <a href=https:\/\/www.ncai.org\/>National Congress of American Indians<\/a> noted last Monday in her <a href=https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/indianz\/sets\/state-of-indian-nations-2022-soin2022>State of Indian Nations address<\/a>.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nTwo cases being heard by the Supreme Court on Monday reflect the  harsh realities of Sharp&#8217;s statement. The outcome in  <a href=https:\/\/sct.narf.org\/caseindexes\/denezpi_v_us.html><em>Denezpi v. United States<\/em><\/a>  will impact the ability of tribes to protect women and children from violence while <a href=https:\/\/sct.narf.org\/caseindexes\/ysleta_del_sur_v_tx.html><em>Ysleta del Sur Pueblo v. Texas<\/em><\/a> affects the livelihoods of thousands of people who depend on employment in Indian Country.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n&#8220;When we do not have Native voices perspectives or experience on the federal bench, often decisions are made that ignore history, sovereignty and our truth,&#8221; said Sharp, who also serves as vice president of the <a href=https:\/\/www.quinaultindiannation.com\/>Quinault Nation<\/a>.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n &#8220;These decisions have long lasting effects,&#8221; Sharp added.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n <a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/10\/19\/supreme-court-takes-up-indian-law-cases-as-tribes-face-new-unknown\/speakingrockentertainmentcenter\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-17086\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1711\" data-attachment-id=\"17086\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/10\/19\/supreme-court-takes-up-indian-law-cases-as-tribes-face-new-unknown\/speakingrockentertainmentcenter\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/20\/SpeakingRockEntertainmentCenter-scaled.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2560,1711\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;NIKON D3400&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1502555806&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;40&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.001&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Speaking Rock Entertainment Center\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;Speaking Rock Entertainment Center&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;The Speaking Rock Entertainment Center is owned and operated by the  Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, also known as the Tigua Tribe, in El Paso, Texas. Photo: Speaking Rock Entertainment Center&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/20\/SpeakingRockEntertainmentCenter-1024x684.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/20\/SpeakingRockEntertainmentCenter-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Speaking Rock Entertainment Center\"  class=\"size-full wp-image-17086\" \/><\/a> <figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">The Speaking Rock Entertainment Center is owned and operated by the  Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, also known as the Tigua Tribe, in El Paso, Texas. Photo: Speaking Rock Entertainment Center<\/figcaption>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\"><em>Ysleta del Sur Pueblo v. Texas<\/em><\/div>\r\nFor the <a href=https:\/\/www.ysletadelsurpueblo.org\/>Ysleta del Sur Pueblo<\/a>, also known as the Tigua Tribe, getting to the Supreme Court has been an ordeal in and of itself. For the past 20 years, the tribe has been battling the state of Texas over the right to engage in gaming on its small reservation.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nThe tribe has repeatedly suffered from  rulings in the lower courts that have led to the loss of significant revenues and jobs at its <a href=http:\/\/www.speakingrock.com\/>Speaking Rock Entertainment Center<\/a> near El Paso. These earlier decisions primarily rely on an  interpretation of a federal law that treats Ysleta del Sur&#8217;s sovereignty in a manner different than almost every other Indian nation. \r\n<P><\/P>\r\nPrior attempts, dating back to the early 2000s,  to get the Supreme Court to address the disparity have not been successful. But  with a big  player now involved  &#8212; that is, the United States government &#8212;  there is finally hope that the justices will finally  change course and reaffirm the tribe&#8217;s inherent rights under the <a href=https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Indian_Gaming_Regulatory_Act>Indian Gaming Regulatory Act<\/a>.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n&#8220;From the earliest days of the Republic, Indian tribes have been recognized as distinct and independent sovereigns, predating formation of the United States itself,&#8221;  the <a href=http:\/\/www.indiangaming.org\/>National Indian Gaming Association<\/a>, the  <a href=https:\/\/www.usetinc.org\/>United South and Eastern Tribes<\/a> Sovereignty Protection Fund    and NCAI <a href=http:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/DocketPDF\/20\/20-493\/204614\/20211209130122262_20-493%20tsacNationalIndianGamingAssnEtAl.pdf>wrote in a brief urging the high court to side<\/a> with the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">More than 80 community and business groups have said they want Naskila Gaming near Livingston to stay open. So why is the State of Texas trying to shut it down? Let&#39;s keep Naskila open and save 700 Texas jobs! <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/txlege?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#txlege<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ebXGYWBwxf\">https:\/\/t.co\/ebXGYWBwxf<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/lZZ9e02oPj\">pic.twitter.com\/lZZ9e02oPj<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Support AC Tribe (@SupportACTribe) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SupportACTribe\/status\/1489746862349422592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 4, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nAlso paying close attention is the <a href=https:\/\/www.alabama-coushatta.com\/>Alabama-Coushatta Tribe<\/a>, whose casino near Houston has been attacked by the state of Texas as well. Naskila Gaming has put 750 people to work and has helped fund significant initiatives that are all the more important in the age of <a href=\/covid19\/>COVID-19<\/a>.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n&#8220;New residences have been built, and government buildings have been renovated and expanded,&#8221; the <a href=http:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/DocketPDF\/20\/20-493\/204635\/20211209140727381_41799%20pdf%20Hong.pdf>tribe said in own brief<\/a> to the Supreme Court. &#8220;Healthcare services are now available to address medical and dental needs that the tribe was unable to support with funding from the federal government alone.&#8221;\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n&#8220;And the tribe offers educational initiatives and opportunities for its members that would not be possible without Naskila Gaming,&#8221; the brief continues.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nThe significance of the case is shown in the schedule for the hearing in <em>Ysleta del Sur Pueblo v. Texas<\/em>. The Supreme Court has allotted 70 minutes for oral arguments, according to the <a  href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/21\/supremecourtdaycall022222.pdf\">day call for Tuesday<\/a>, with attorneys from the tribe, the federal government and the state of Texas all taking part.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=row><div class=col-6>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/21\/supremecourtdaycall022222.pdf\" class=\"pdfemb-viewer\" style=\"\" data-width=\"max\" data-height=\"max\" data-toolbar=\"both\" data-toolbar-fixed=\"on\">supremecourtdaycall022222<\/a>\r\n<\/div><div class=col-6>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/21\/20-00493qp.pdf\" class=\"pdfemb-viewer\" style=\"\" data-width=\"max\" data-height=\"max\" data-toolbar=\"both\" data-toolbar-fixed=\"on\">20-00493qp<\/a>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nBrant C. Martin, an attorney from Texas, has 20 minutes to make the tribe&#8217;s case. Another 15 minutes has been set aside for Anthony A. Yang, an Assistant to the <a href=https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/osg>Solicitor General  of the United States<\/a>, the official at the  <a href=https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/>Department of Justice<\/a> in charge of Supreme Court litigation.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nBoth Martin and Yang will be seeking the reversal of a <a href=https:\/\/www.ca5.uscourts.gov\/>5th Circuit Court of Appeals<\/a> decision that was, once again, based on an interpretation of federal law that goes against the tribe&#8217;s sovereignty. The <a href=https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/DocketPDF\/20\/20-493\/204680\/20211209194855430_20-493tsacUnited%20States.pdf>U.S. government brief<\/a>, for instance, says the ruling  &#8220;erroneously construed&#8221; key provisions of the <a href=https:\/\/www.govinfo.gov\/content\/pkg\/STATUTE-101\/pdf\/STATUTE-101-Pg666.pdf>Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and Alabama and Coushatta Indian Tribes of Texas Restoration Act<\/a>, which restored both tribes to federal recognition, decades after their <a href=https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Indian_termination_policy>government-to-government status had been terminated<\/a>\r\n<P><\/p>\r\nOn the other side of the battle  is   Lanora C. Pettit, the Principal Deputy Solicitor General for the state of Texas. She will get 35 minutes to argue that the 5th Circuit got it right in 2020 by relying on the restrictive interpretation of the restoration law. \r\n<p><\/p>\r\n <a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2022\/02\/21\/supreme-court-hears-cases-with-high-stakes-for-indian-country\/utemountainutetribe\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-21267\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" data-attachment-id=\"21267\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2022\/02\/21\/supreme-court-hears-cases-with-high-stakes-for-indian-country\/utemountainutetribe\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/22\/utemountainutetribe-scaled.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2560,1920\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;7.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;E7600&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1275757258&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;21.3&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;50&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0037037037037037&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Ute Mountain Ute Tribe\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;Ute Mountain Ute Tribe&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;&amp;#8220;For Your Safety all Tribal and Federal Laws are strictly enforced,&amp;#8221; reads a sign welcoming visitors to the lands of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe in Colorado. Photo: &lt;a href=https:\/\/flickr.com\/photos\/auvet\/4707970294\/&gt;Jimmy Emerson, DVM&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/22\/utemountainutetribe-1024x768.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/22\/utemountainutetribe-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Ute Mountain Ute Tribe\"  class=\"size-full wp-image-21267\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"figure-caption\"> &#8220;For Your Safety all Tribal and Federal Laws are strictly enforced,&#8221; reads a sign welcoming visitors to the lands of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe in Colorado. Photo: <a href=https:\/\/flickr.com\/photos\/auvet\/4707970294\/>Jimmy Emerson, DVM<\/a><\/figcaption> \r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\"><em>Denezpi v. United States<\/em><\/div>\r\nAt stake in the second case being heard on Monday is an issue that is close to many in Indian Country and one that has been the subject of decades of work across the nation: protecting women and children from violence, no matter who the perpetrator.\r\n<P><\/p>\r\nIn the case of <em>Denezpi v. United States<\/em>, the perpetrator is Merle Denezpi, a citizen of the <a href=https:\/\/www.navajo-nsn.gov\/>Navajo Nation<\/a> who has been convicted of domestic violence in multiple judicial forums. He pleaded guilty to assault and battery charge after being prosecuted by the <a href=https:\/\/www.utemountainutetribe.com\/>Ute Mountain Ute Tribe<\/a> and was subsequently indicted by the U.S. government for aggravated sexual assault.\r\n<P><\/p>\r\nThere is no dispute that the tribal case and the federal case arise from the same incident on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation in Colorado, where Denezpi&#8217;s partner at the time resided. But  what the Supreme Court will be resolving is whether the offender&#8217;s rights  under the <a href=https:\/\/www.archives.gov\/founding-docs\/constitution-transcript>U.S. Constitution<\/a> are being violated by being prosecuted for the same crime more than once.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nAccording to a <a href=http:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/DocketPDF\/20\/20-7622\/204356\/20211207150515943_20-7622.Brief%20for%20Petitioner.pdf>brief filed by  Denezpi&#8217;s attorneys<\/a>, the &#8220;Double Jeopardy Clause plainly bars a single sovereign from prosecuting the same defendant twice for substantively identical criminal offenses.&#8221;\r\n<P><\/p>\r\nSince <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/archive\/001818.asp>tribal governments exercise sovereignty<\/a> independent of the  United States, the Supreme Court previously held that  the <a href=https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Double_Jeopardy_Clause>Double Jeopardy Clause<\/a> does not come into play when one of the prosecution occurs in a tribal judicial forum.  The 2004 decision in <a href=https:\/\/sct.narf.org\/caseindexes\/lara.html><em>United States v. Lara<\/em><\/a>, coincidentally, involved a crime against a law enforcement officer, an issue central to  ongoing <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2022\/02\/11\/progress-cited-in-improving-violence-against-women-act-for-indian-country\/>work  in Congress to renew the Violence Against Women Act<\/a>.\r\n<P><\/p>\r\n<div class=row><div class=col-md-10>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/21\/20-07622qp.pdf\" class=\"pdfemb-viewer\" style=\"\" data-width=\"max\" data-height=\"max\" data-toolbar=\"both\" data-toolbar-fixed=\"on\">20-07622qp<\/a>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n<P><\/p>\r\nWhat&#8217;s different for  Denezpi  is that his  Ute Mountain Ute prosecution was handled in a forum known as a <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Code_of_Indian_Offenses\">Court of Indian Offenses<\/a>, commonly known as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bia.gov\/CFRCourts\">CFR Court<\/a>. His defense team argues that everything about the situation &#8212; including the reported title  of the CFR  case, which was &#8220;The United States of America vs. Merle Denezpi&#8221; &#8212; points against treated the tribe as a separate sovereign.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nCurrently, five CFR Courts are   in operation,  handling cases for fewer than 20 tribes, according to the   <a href=https:\/\/www.bia.gov\/>Bureau of Indian Affairs<\/a>. Some of the <a href=http:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/DocketPDF\/20\/20-7622\/210538\/20220118132503638_207622UteMountainUTETribeEasternShawneeTribeOfOklahomaAndOtoeMissouriaTribeOfIndians.pdf>affected tribes are asking the Supreme Court<\/a> to once again rely on the <a href=https:\/\/turtletalk.blog\/tag\/dual-sovereignty-doctrine\/>dual sovereignty doctrine<\/a>, as it did previously in <em>Lara<\/em>, but also to recognize the realities on the ground when it comes to public safety in their communities.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n&#8220;A tribal or BIA prosecutor faced with a felony sexual assault on an Indian reservation must make his decisions on the assumption that it is more likely than not that there will never be a federal prosecution,&#8221; a brief submitted by the <a href=https:\/\/www.utemountainutetribe.com\/CFR%20courts.html>Ute Mountain Ute Tribe<\/a>, the <a href=https:\/\/www.shawnee-nsn.gov\/>Shawnee Tribe<\/a> and the <a href=https:\/\/www.omtribe.org\/>Otoe-Missouria Tribe<\/a> reads. They further point out that federal prosecutors &#8220;generally decline about half of the Indian Country cases that are referred to them, and more than half of the violent crimes.&#8221;\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n&#8220;For incidents of the sexual assault, the declination rate was 67%,&#8221; the tribes state in highlighting the disparity in lack of prosecutions on reservations.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<div class=\" content_cards_card content_cards_domain_indianz-com\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"content_cards_image\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_image_link\" href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2022\/02\/11\/progress-cited-in-improving-violence-against-women-act-for-indian-country\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/03\/nativewomen-scaled-3.jpg\" alt=\"Progress cited in improving Violence Against Women Act for Indian Country\">\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_title\">\n\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_title_link\" href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2022\/02\/11\/progress-cited-in-improving-violence-against-women-act-for-indian-country\/\">\n\t\t\tProgress cited in improving Violence Against Women Act for Indian Country\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_description\">\n\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_description_link\" href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2022\/02\/11\/progress-cited-in-improving-violence-against-women-act-for-indian-country\/\">\n\t\t\t<p>A bill to update the Violence Against Women Act and recognize tribal jurisdiction over additional crimes is finally moving forward in the nation\u2019s capital.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_site_name\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/favicon.ico\" alt=\"Indianz.Com\" class=\"content_cards_favicon\"\/>\t\tIndianz.Com\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n Still, the distinction   in <em>Denezpi<\/em> is notable enough for the Supreme Court to want to resolve it. And that has many in Indian Country worried about a setback in efforts to recognize tribal jurisdiction over all offenders.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n&#8220;With constant attacks on our sovereignty, our jurisdiction, and the ability to protect our Native children and courts, we must ensure that we keep fighting for our sovereignty, our laws and our future,&#8221; NCAI President Sharp said in her address last week.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nOral arguments  will immediately follow the hearing in <em>Ysleta del Sur<\/em> and   are <a  href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/21\/supremecourtdaycall022222.pdf\">scheduled to last one hour<\/a>.    Michael B. Kimberly, an attorney based in Washington, D.C., will get 30 minutes to argue for Denezpi, who lost a <a href=https:\/\/www.ca10.uscourts.gov\/>10th Circuit Court of Appeals<\/a> decision in his case in 2020.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nErica L. Ross, an Assistant to the <a href=https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/osg>Solicitor General  of the United States<\/a>, the official at the  <a href=https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/>Department of Justice<\/a> in charge of Supreme Court litigation, will represent the federal government. She has 30 minutes to convince the high court that the 10th Circuit got it right.\r\n<p><\/p><div class=\"mt-1 mb-1\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block; text-align:center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-8411603009680747\" data-ad-slot=\"6394965691\"><\/ins><script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/script><\/div><P><\/P>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\">Tuning In to Supreme Court<\/div>\r\nWith the Supreme Court operating under  <a href=https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/announcements\/COVID-19.aspx>COVID-19  protocols<\/a>, the building in the nation&#8217;s capital remains closed to visitors. Arguments have been broadcast on the internet since May 2020, with audio available on <a href=https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/oral_arguments\/live.aspx>supremecourt.gov<\/a> and carried by a number of media outlets, including <a href=https:\/\/www.c-span.org\/supremeCourt\/>C-SPAN<\/a>.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nIndianz.Com is hosting a room on Clubhouse, the audio-based social media platform, to <a href=https:\/\/www.clubhouse.com\/event\/ma56Qnwv?utm_medium=ch_event&#038;utm_campaign=FvStuEObltZglfBQXBXT5Q-74262>listen to the argument on Tuesday morning<\/a>. The <a href=https:\/\/www.clubhouse.com\/>Clubhouse app<\/a> is available for Apple and Android devices.\r\n<P><\/p>\r\nReaders who are not yet members of  Clubhouse can <a href=https:\/\/www.clubhouse.com\/join\/Indianz.Com\/VbntSCJs\/ma56Qnwv?utm_medium=ch_invite&#038;utm_campaign=v68-OLd6V2iZWWm41dNogQ-74632>join the Indianz.Com club<\/a> and participate with their device.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\">Support from StrongHearts Native Helpline <\/div>\r\n<a href=https:\/\/strongheartshelpline.org\/>StrongHearts Native Helpline<\/a>, which is available for free nationwide, is a culturally-appropriate, anonymous, confidential service dedicated to serving Native American and Alaska Native survivors of domestic, dating and sexual violence and concerned relatives and friends. Knowledgeable advocates provide peer support, crisis intervention, personalized safety planning and referrals to Native-centered support services. Call or text 1-844-7NATIVE or visit <a href=https:\/\/strongheartshelpline.org\/>strongheartshelpline.org<\/a> for chat advocacy 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.\r\n<p><\/P>\r\n<div class=\"h4-responsive\">Related Stories<\/div>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2022\/02\/11\/progress-cited-in-improving-violence-against-women-act-for-indian-country\/\" title=\"Progress cited in improving Violence Against Women Act for Indian Country\">Progress cited in improving Violence Against Women Act for Indian Country<\/a> (February 11, 2022)<BR>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2022\/01\/31\/gaylord-news-supreme-court-takes-another-look-at-indian-country-dispute\/\" title=\"Gaylord News: Supreme Court takes another look at Indian Country dispute\">Gaylord News: Supreme Court takes another look at Indian Country dispute<\/a> (January 31, 2022)<BR>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2022\/01\/31\/chuck-hoskin-cherokee-nation-deserves-to-be-treated-with-respect\/\" 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href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/04\/19\/indian-country-nearly-locked-out-of-u-s-supreme-court-hearing\/\" title=\"Indian Country nearly locked out of U.S. Supreme Court hearing\">Indian Country nearly locked out of U.S. Supreme Court hearing<\/a> (April 19, 2021)","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Amid a high-stakes political battle, the nation\u2019s highest court is gearing up for some major decisions that will affect Indian Country for generations to come.","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":21267,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[67,20,13,1,14],"tags":[2056,612,1527,2525,117,2527,400,5,346,94,362,71,121,2524,223,73,397,2526,410,138,2088,2528,24,7,1143,1086,85,91,911,1198,220,1331,84,203,27,1526,106,755,2047,455],"class_list":["post-21257","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-indian-gaming","category-indian-trust","category-law","category-national","category-politics","tag-10th-circuit","tag-5th-circuit","tag-alabama-coushatta","tag-anthony-yang","tag-bia","tag-brant-martin","tag-colorado","tag-coronavirus","tag-dc","tag-democrats","tag-doj","tag-economic-development","tag-employment","tag-erica-ross","tag-fawn-sharp","tag-igra","tag-jurisdiction","tag-lanora-petit","tag-law-firms","tag-meetings","tag-merle-denezpi","tag-michael-kimberly","tag-navajo","tag-ncai","tag-niga","tag-otoe-missouria","tag-republicans","tag-senate","tag-shawnee","tag-soin","tag-sovereignty","tag-stephen-breyer","tag-supreme-court","tag-termination","tag-texas","tag-tigua","tag-tribal-courts","tag-uset","tag-ute-mountain-ute","tag-vawa","no-wpautop"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/22\/utemountainutetribe-scaled.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcoJ7g-5wR","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21257","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21257"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21257\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21267"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21257"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21257"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21257"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}