As a June 19 deadline approaches, the Interior Department faces several lawsuits and challenges over its decision to acquire 13,000 acres in trust for the Oneida Nation in New York.

The state of New York and two counties will be filing one of the suits. It challenges the merits of the decision and reportedly raises constitutional challenges to the Indian Reorganization Act.

Two towns wanted to join the state lawsuit but will file one on their own. Cornelius Murray, an attorney who has worked on other Indian law cases, has been hired by the towns.

Two groups -- the Central New York Fair Business Association and Citizens Equal Rights Alliance -- are challenging the decision before the Interior Board of Indian Appeals. Three lawmakers and one tribal member have joined the appeal.

Another group -- the Upstate Citizens for Equality -- has said it will file a lawsuit.

Get the Story:
Oneida County lawmakers join trust suit (The Syracuse Post-Standard 6/12)

Relevant Documents:
Record of Decision | Final EIS (March 2008) | Draft EIS (November 2006)

From the Indianz.Com Archive:
BIA official calls high court ruling 'quite depressing' (March 31, 2005)
Major defeat for Oneida Nation in Supreme Court case (March 30, 2005)

Relevant Links:
Indian Nation Fee-to-Trust Land Acquisition Applications in New York State - http://www.dec.ny.gov/public/888.html
Oneida Indian Nation's Land Into Trust Application, Madison County - http://www.madisoncounty.org/motf/OINTrustMain.html

Sherrill v. Oneida Nation Decision:
Syllabus | Opinion [Ginsburg] | Concurrence [Souter] | Dissent [Stevens]

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