Justia U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals Opinion Summaries

Articles Posted in Native American Law
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The Band, a federally recognized Indian tribe, has more than 4,000 enrolled members, most living within or near its aboriginal lands in Michigan. Under the Little Bands Act and the Indian Reorganization Act, 25 U.S.C. 476, the Band enacted a constitution that vests its legislative powers in the Tribal Council and grants the Council power to operate gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, 25 U.S.C. 2701. The Band entered into a compact with the State of Michigan to conduct gaming activities on Manistee trust lands. The casino has 905 employees: 107 are enrolled Band members, 27 are members of other tribes, and 771 are not members of any Indian tribe. Most casino employees live outside the Band’s trust lands. Apart from the casino, 245 employees work for the Band: 108 are Band members. The Council enacted a Fair Employment Practices Code, which essentially prohibit or drastically restrict most concerted activities, collective bargaining, and organization efforts. Acting under the National Labor Relations Act, 29 U.S.C. 151–169, the National Labor Relations Board issued an order to the Band to cease and desist enforcing provisions that conflict with the NLRA. The Sixth Circuit entered an enforcement order, finding that the NLRA applies to the casino. View "Nat'l Labor Relations Bd. v. Little River Band of Ottawa Indians" on Justia Law

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The Tribe bought land from the City of Lansing to build a class III gaming facility, using funds appropriated by Congress for the benefit of certain Michigan tribes. The Michigan Indian Land Claims Settlement Act provides that land acquired with the income on these funds shall be held in trust by the federal government. Michigan obtained an injunction to prevent the Tribe from applying to have land taken into trust by the Secretary of the Interior, on the ground that the submission would violate a compact between the state and the Tribe. That compact requires that a tribe seeking to have land taken into trust for gaming purposes under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), 25 U.S.C. 2703(4)(B), secure a revenue-sharing agreement with other tribes. The Sixth Circuit reversed. The state did not seek to enjoin a class III gaming activity, but instead a trust submission under MILCSA, so IGRA does not abrogate the Tribe’s sovereign immunity, and the district court lacked jurisdiction. The issue of whether class III gaming on the property at issue will violate IGRA if the Tribe’s MILCSA trust submission is successful is not ripe. View "Michigan v. Sault Ste. Marie Tribe" on Justia Law

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The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act allows “Class III gaming activities” (casino gaming) on Indian lands (25 U.S.C. 2710(d)) if the tribe adopts a gaming ordinance approved by the National Indian Gaming Commission and negotiates a “Tribal-State compact.” Bay Mills is a recognized tribe with a reservation in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. In 1993, the tribe entered a compact with Michigan. The Gaming Commission approved its gaming ordinance. Bay Mills began operating a casino on its reservation in Chippewa County. In 1997, Congress passed the Michigan Indian Land Claims Settlement Act, which directed Bay Mills to deposit a portion of its settlement funds into a land trust, with earnings to be used for improvements on or acquisition of tribal land; land so acquired “shall be held as Indian lands.” In 2010, Bay Mills used trust earnings to purchase 40 acres in Vanderbilt, more than 100 miles from its reservation, then constructed a small casino on the property (38 electronic machines, expanded to 84). Michigan and another tribe sued, claiming violations of the compact and state law. The district court enjoined Bay Mills from operating the Vanderbilt casino. The Sixth Circuit vacated the injunction. The district court lacked jurisdiction over some claims and tribal sovereign immunity bars others. View "State of MI v. Bay Mills Indian Cmty" on Justia Law

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A member of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community was convicted of destroying trees on the Ontonagon Reservation (18 U.S.C. 1853) and stealing tribal property for his own use (18 U.S.C. 1163). The Sixth Circuit affirmed, rejecting arguments that the defendant had a right to use the land as chief of the Ontonagon Band and that his sentence was improper because he did not receive an acceptance of responsibility reduction. Federal law does not recognize a separate Ontonagon Band; the land is held by the government in trust for the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community. Merely expressing regret for the consequences of criminal conduct, without admitting wrongful intent, does not constitute acceptance of responsibility within the meaning of the Guidelines. The court acted within its discretion in imposing a restitution requirement of $47,200.