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APRIL 6, 2001

The Department of Justice last week filed an opposition brief to the state of Connecticut's lawsuit against the Department of Interior for taking 165 acres of land into trust for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation.

The DOJ's brief to the Supreme Court said the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals was correct to decide the case in favor of the government. The court said nothing prevents the tribe from asking the Interior to take land into trust.

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal filed a reply brief on Thursday and said the Court should take the case because he fears the tribe is seeking addtional trust lands. He also said the Court should decide if federal Indian laws like the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act apply to the Pequot Tribe.

Get the Ruling:
Connecticut v. Babbitt (Second Circuit Court of Appeals. No. 99-6042. September 2000)

Get the Story:
Federal lawyers urge Supreme Court to reject petition from 3 loval towns (The New London Day 4/6)

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

Related Stories:
State joins Pequot appeal (11/29)
Towns to appeal Pequot ruling (Tribal Law 11/07)
Does a Pequot empire await? (Tribal Law 9/27)
Court rules against anti-Pequot towns (Tribal Law 9/26)