Long battle expected over self-determination contract support
Friday, June 22, 2012
Filed Under:
Law
More on: contract support costs, navajo, self-determination, supreme court
The
U.S. Supreme Court delivered an important victory for tribes in
Salazar v . Ramah Navajo Chapter but it could be years before they see any of the money they are owed.
The decision affects over 300 tribes that entered into self-determination contracts with the federal government. For seven years, from 1994 to 2011, they didn't receive all the funds they were promised, the Supreme Court noted.
"The tribes fully performed," Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote for the majority.
The federal government, however, did not.
"Between FY 1994 and 2001, appropriations covered only between 77% and 92% of tribes’ aggregate contract support costs," the decision stated.
The exact amount owed isn't known at this time. But Michael Gross, an attorney for the
Ramah Navajo Chapter in New Mexico, said government attorneys referred to the situation as a "billion dollar case."
"That's their words, not mine," Gross told The Navajo Times.
Get the Story:
Ramah wins landmark case in U.S. Supreme Court
(The Navajo Times 6/21)
Supreme Court Decision:
Salazar
v. Ramah Navajo Chapter (June 18, 2012)
Oral Argument Transcript:
Ramah
Navajo Chapter v. Salazar (April 28, 2012)
10th Circuit Decision:
Ramah
Navajo Chapter v. Salazar (May 9, 2011)
Related Stories:
Trial to begin in dispute over
self-determination contract costs (6/20)
Supreme Court backs
tribes in self-determination contract case (6/18)
Lloyd Miller: Supreme Court to rule in
self-determination lawsuit (06/06)
SCOTUSBlog: Recap of argument in self-determination
suit (04/19)
Turtle Talk: Commentary on
self-determination argument (4/19)
Supreme Court transcript from self-determination
case (4/18)
Supreme Court set for
hearing in self-determination case (4/16)
Supreme Court agrees to take up self-determination
dispute (01/09)
Supreme Court puts off
action on self-determination litigation (11/28)
10th Circuit sides with tribes on
self-determination contracts (5/9)
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