2023-2024 Term
Supreme Court Cases Related to Indian Law

Last Reviewed: April 24, 2024

Cert Granted

Becerra v. San Carlos Apache Tribe
Briefs and Pleadings
Docket No. 23-250

Subject Matter: Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act Contract Support Costs

History: Petition for a writ of certiorari was filed on 9/13/2023. Petition was granted on 11/20/2023 and consolidated with No. 23-253 (Becerra v. Northern Arapaho Tribe).

Rulings Below: San Carlos Apache Tribe v. Becerra, 53 F.4th 1236. Additional materials available via Turtle Talk. Northern Arapaho Tribe v. Becerra, 61 F.4th 810. Additional materials available via Turtle Talk.

Back to Top

Cert Pending

 

West Flagler Associates v. Haaland
Briefs and Pleadings
Docket No. 23-862

Subject Matter: Online sports betting under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act

History: Petition for a writ of certiorari was filed on 2/8/2024.

Rulings Below: West Flagler Associates, Ltd. v. Haaland, 71 F.4th 1059. West Flagler Associates v. Haaland, 573 F.Supp.3d 260. Additional materials available via Turtle Talk.

Back to Top

 

Cert Denied

Alaska v. USA
144 S.Ct. 546
Briefs and Pleadings
Docket No. 22O157

Subject Matter: Breach of contract; Administrative Procedure Act; Takings

History: Motion for bill of complaint was filed on 7/26/2023. Motion for leave to file a bill of complaint was denied on 1/8/2024.

Bird Industries, Inc. v. Tribal Business Council of Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation
144 S.Ct. 185
Briefs and Pleadings
Docket No. 22-19

Subject Matter: Tribal sovereign immunity from suit

History: Petition for a writ of certiorari was filed on 7/3/2023. Petition was denied on 10/2/2023.

Rulings Below: Bird Industries, Inc. v. Tribal Business Council of Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, 2023 WL 2486077; Bird Industries, Inc. v. Tribal Business Council of Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, 2022 WL 2666062.

Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations v. City of Philadelphia
144 S.Ct. 86
Briefs and Pleadings
Docket No. 22-1137

Subject Matter: Standing to challenge public holiday

History: Petition for a writ of certiorari was filed on 5/18/2023. Petition was denied on 10/2/2023.

Ruling Below: Conference of Presidents of Major Italian Am. Organizations, Inc. v. City of Philadelphia, 2023 WL 1069704.

Klamath Irrigation District v. United States Bureau of Reclamation
144 S.Ct. 342
Briefs and Pleadings
Docket No. 22-1116

Subject Matter: Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 19 (Required Joinder of Parties)

History: Petition for a writ of certiorari was filed on 5/11/2023. Petition was denied on 10/30/2023.

Ruling Below: Klamath Irrigation District v. United States Bureau of Reclamation, 48 F.4th 934.

Klamath Irrigation District v. United States Bureau of Reclamation
144 S.Ct. 552
Briefs and Pleadings
Docket No. 23-216

Subject Matter: Prior exclusive jurisdiction doctrine

History: Petition for a writ of certiorari was filed on 9/5/2023. Petition was denied on 1/8/2024.

Ruling Below: In re Klamath Irrigation District, 69 F.4th 934.

Littlefield v. Department of the Interior
2024 WL 1348872
Briefs and Pleadings
Docket No. 23-839

Subject Matter: Land trust acquisitions under the Indian Reorganization Act

History: Petition for a writ of certiorari was filed on 1/26/2024. Petition was denied on 4/1/2024.

Rulings Below: Littlefield v. U.S. Department of the Interior, 85 F.4th 635. Littlefield v. U.S. Department of the Interior, 656 F.Supp.3d 280. Additional materials available via Turtle Talk.

Martin v. Sandoval County, New Mexico
144 S.Ct. 85
Briefs and Pleadings
Docket No. 22-1133

Subject Matter: New Mexico Rule of Civil Procedure 19 (Required Joinder of Parties)

History: Petition for a writ of certiorari was filed on 5/15/2023. Petition was denied on 10/2/2023.

Ruling Below: Martin v. Sandoval County, 2022 WL 17489050.

No Casino In Plymouth v. National Indian Gaming Commission
2024 WL 1607784
Briefs and Pleadings
Docket No. 23-854

Subject Matter: Land trust acquisitions under the Indian Reorganization Act; Indian Gaming Regulatory Act

History: Petition for a writ of certiorari was filed on 2/5/2024. Petition was denied on 4/15/2024.

Rulings Below: No Casino in Plymouth v. National Indian Gaming Commission, 2023 WL 4646113. No Casino in Plymouth v. National Indian Gaming Commission, 2022 WL 1489498. Additional materials available via Turtle Talk.

Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe v. City of Seattle
144 S.Ct. 74
Briefs and Pleadings
Docket No. 22-955

Subject Matter: Federal court jurisdiction and the futility doctrine

History: Petition for a writ of certiorari was filed on 3/28/2023. Petition was denied on 10/2/2023.

Ruling Below: Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe v. City of Seattle, 56 F.4th 1179.

Slockish v. Dept. of Transportation
144 S.Ct. 324
Briefs and Pleadings
Docket No. 22-321

Subject Matter: Religious freedom

History: Petition for a writ of certiorari was filed on 10/3/2022. Petition was dismissed on 10/10/2023.

Ruling Below: Slockish v. U.S. Dep't of Transportation, 2021 WL 5507413.

Tingle v. Florida Dept. of Health
144 S.Ct. 553
Briefs and Pleadings
Docket No. 23-246

Subject Matter: Due Process and Equal Protection under U.S. and Florida Constitutions

History: Petition for a writ of certiorari was filed on 9/12/2023. Petition was denied on 1/8/2024.

Ruling Below: Tingle v. Florida Department of Health, 361 So.3d 315 (Unpublished Disposition).

 

Back to Top

Table of Contents

  • Cert Granted - Petitions for certiorari that have been granted in Indian law-related cases.
  • Cert Pending - Petitions for certiorari that are pending in Indian law-related cases.
  • Cert Denied - Petitions for certiorari that have been denied in Indian law-related cases.

Visit the Archives for the Indian Law Bulletins to see cases from previous years.

See also the website for the Tribal Supreme Court Project for additional case information related including update memos and case pleadings.


Indian Law Bulletins are a current awareness service of the National Indian Law Library. The purpose of the Indian Law Bulletins is to provide succinct and timely information about new developments in Indian Law. See the About page for more information.

Search the Supreme Court Indian Law Bulletins:

Basic Search Help
Operators and More Search Help

A note about links used in this document

Blue links on this page go to information available for free on the Internet. Green links go to information available on Westlaw which require a Westlaw account. The library is not affiliated with Thomson Reuters or Westlaw.