Supreme Court requests DOJ brief in tribal court jurisdiction case

Monday, January 24, 2011  

The U.S. Supreme Court today asked for the views of the Department of Justice in Miccosukee Tribe v. Kraus-Anderson Construction, a tribal court jurisdiction case.

The Miccosukee Tribe of Florida won a $1.65 million judgment against Kraus-Anderson Construction Co., a non-Indian company. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, however, said the federal courts couldn't enforce the award.

The tribe appealed and, in an unusual development, Kraus-Anderson filed a brief in support of the tribe. But the justices, in an order, said they want to hear from the federal government before moving forward.

Turtle Talk notes this is the fourth time that the court has asked for DOJ's views in a recent Indian law case.

11th Circuit Decision:
Miccosukee Tribe of Indians v. Kraus-Anderson Company (May 28, 2010)

11th Circuit blocks Miccosukee Tribe from collecting award (6/4)