Facebook Twitter Email
APRIL 20, 2001

Who owns the southern third of Lake Coeur d'Alene in Idaho is the subject of a states' rights case headed to the Supreme Court on Monday.

Two courts have upheld the Coeur d'Alene Tribe's ownership. The state appealed last year.

This isn't the first time the Court has seen the case. The Court previously ruled the state had sovereign immunity when the tribe tried to force the state into a lawsuit.

This time, the United States filed the case on behalf of the tribe, so the state was compelled to court.

Lake Decision:
US v. Idaho (Ninth Circuit. No. 9835831. May 2000)
Get the 1997 Supreme Court Case:
Idaho, et al. v. Coeur d'Alene Tribe of Idaho, et al 521 U.S. 261 (1997)
Syllabus | Opinion | Concurrence | Dissent

Get the Story:
High court to hear tribe's claim to lake (The Spokesman Review 4/20)

Only on Indianz.Com:
The Supreme Court and Indian Law: 2000-2001 (3/6)

Relevant Links:
The Coeur d'Alene Tribe - www.cdatribe.com
Attorney General, Idaho - www2.state.id.us/ag

Related Stories:
Supreme Court to rule on lake ownership (12/13)
State wants Coeur d'Alene Lake (7/27)