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THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2003

Navajo Nation leaders expressed disappointment with the Supreme Court's decision on Tuesday to end their $600 million breach of trust claim.

The 6-3 ruling found that the Department of Interior did not violate any trust obligations for approving a coal lease that was unfavorable to the tribe. The court said federal law did not impose any duties on government officials.

Get the Story:
Navajos: U.S. Supreme Court ruling devastating' (The Farmington Daily Times 3/6)
Ruling favors Apache tribe (The Lincoln Journal Star 3/5)

Get the Decision:
Syllabus | Opinion [Ginsburg] | Dissent [Souter]

Relevant Documents:
Supreme Court Docket Sheet No. 01-1375 | Petition: United States | Reply: United States | Merits: United States | Merits: Navajo Nation | Reply Brief: United States | Joint Appendix Vol. I | Joint Appendix Vol. II

Decisions Below:
NAVAJO NATION v. US, No 00-5086 (Fed Cir. August 10, 2001)

Related Decisions:
Mitchell I: UNITED STATES v. MITCHELL, 445 U.S. 535 (1980)
Mitchell II: UNITED STATES v. MITCHELL, 463 U.S. 206 (1983)

Relevant Links:
U.S. Supreme Court - http://www.supremecourtus.gov
Navajo Nation - http://www.navajo.org

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