The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments on Tuesday in the Cayuga Nation foreclosure lawsuit.

Seneca County wants to foreclose on land owned by the tribe for non-payment of property taxes. The land is not in trust but is the subject of a final environmental impact statement that was issued by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in October 2010.

A federal judge ruled that the county could not initiate foreclosure proceedings due to the tribe's sovereign immunity. The decision is in line with prior rulings from the 2nd Circuit in a similar dispute involving the Oneida Nation.

The hearing was held in New York City. Turtle Talk has posted briefs from the case, Cayuga Nation v. Seneca County.

Get the Story:
Appeals court judges hear from tribe, Seneca County in tax foreclosure battle (The Finger Lake Times 1/8)
Seneca County officials head to NYC for tribe foreclosure arguments (The Finger Lake Times 1/7)

Related Stories:
Opinion: Reject Cayuga Nation's land-into-trust application (1/6)
2nd Circuit schedules hearing in Cayuga Nation foreclosure (06/27)
Bill requires state to pay Cayuga Nation property tax bill (5/16)
Cayuga Nation wins decision on foreclosure of non-trust land (8/22)