Rhode Island Gov. Donald Carcieri (R) ended the fiscal year with a budget deficit, in part due to his decision to spend $200,000 on a land-into-trust case before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Carcieri hired Theodore B. Olson, the former Solicitor General at the Department of Justice, to represent his office in the case. Olson's fee contributed to a $184,152 deficit in the governor's budget, a spokeperson said.

The Supreme Court will hear the case November 3. Carcieri is fighting with officials in the town of Charlestown over who will present oral arguments.

State officials want the high court to overturn a ruling that said the Interior Department can take land into trust for the Narragansett Tribe. The newly acquired land, unlike the tribe's reservation, will not be subject to state jurisdiction.

Get the Story:
Lawmakers to hold hearings on new deficit (The Providence Journal 9/12)
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Supreme Court Documents:
Docket Sheet | Questions Presented | Order List

1st Circuit Decisions:
En Banc (July 20, 2007) | Panel (February 9, 2005)

Briefs and Other Documents:
Carcieri v. Kempthorne (NARF-NCAI Tribal Supreme Court Project

Relevant Laws:
Rhode Island Indian Claims Settlement Act (US Code)

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Court takes land-into-trust case (2/26)
U.S. Supreme Court accepts land-into-trust case (2/25)
High court weighs Narragansett land-into-trust (2/22)
Groups file brief in pending land-into-trust case (02/06)
Supreme Court brief backs land-into-trust (1/29)