The New York Court of Appeals met today to hear the Cayuga Nation tobacco case. In November 2008, authorities in Cayuga and Seneca counties seized cigarettes and property owned by the tribe. A state appellate court later ruled the counties lacked jurisdiction because the tribe's two smoke shops are on Indian land. The counties filed an appeal and said the smoke shops are not on trust land. The Department of Justice submitted a brief to contest that claim. Today's hearing took place in Syracuse. A large contingent of Cayuga Nation and Seneca Nation citizens gathered for the hearing. Get the Story:
Western NY Iroquois arrive in Syracuse to support Cayuga Indians in sales tax case (The Syracuse Post-Standard 3/25)
Crowd expected in Columbus Circle as high court hears Cayuga Nation cigarette tax case in Syracuse (The Syracuse Post-Standard 3/25)
NY Top Court Weighs Tax Claim on Indian Cigarettes (AP 1/25) New York Appellate Division Decision:
Cayuga Nation v. Gould (July 10, 2009) New York Supreme Court Decision:
Cayuga Nation v. Gould (December 9, 2008) Related Stories:
DOJ brief backs Cayuga Nation in tobacco tax dispute (02/25)
Editorial: Cayuga Nation tobacco battle a big issue (2/22)
Cayuga Nation wants seized cigarettes back (7/17)
Second county rejects Cayuga tobacco tax offer (7/16)
County to appeal Cayuga Nation tobacco case (7/15)
Cayuga Nation offers settlement in tobacco case (7/14)
Cayuga Nation wins tobacco taxation decision (7/13)
Battle over Cayuga Nation tobacco continues (3/6)
Cayuga Nation halts sale of tax-free cigarettes (2/20)
Judge rules against Cayuga Nation tobacco sales (2/19)
Cayuga Nation to reopen disputed smoke shops (01/30)
Court halts Cayuga Nation tobacco prosecution (01/22)
Cayuga Nation seeks halt to tobacco prosecution (1/13)
Cayuga Nation plans to fight tobacco tax charges (12/10)
Cayuga Nation in court over raid of smokeshops (12/4)
Cayuga Nation claims 'reservation' exemption (12/2)
Cayuga Nation heads to court after smokeshop raid (12/1)
County authorities raid Cayuga Nation smoke shops (11/26)