Carmen White Horse spoke about the murder of her granddaughter Reganne Chekpa during the inaugural MMIP conference held by the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Rosebud Sioux Tribe. (Photo by Amelia Schafer, ICT/Rapid City Journal)
The Indian law and policy blog, Turtle Talk, posted this review of Top 10 Indian Law Stories of 2010:
- Wells Fargo v. Lake of the Torches EDC. The effort by the bank to force Lac du Flambeau to pay its obligations had been shut down by the conclusion of a federal court that the trust indenture was a gaming management contract. A Seventh Circuit appeal was briefed and argued, and is pending.
- Tribal Law and Order Act. Congress finally passed a piece of legislation geared at dealing with a national problem — the incredible rise of violent crime in Indian Country, and most especially violence against Indian women.
- Challenges to the PACT Act. Congress’s effort to destroy what remains of Indian country tobacco sales over the internet was initially enjoined, but that injunction was lifted. The cases are now pending in the Second Circuit.
- Gun Lake Band Casino news. The Gun Lake Band finally began construction on its casino after more than a decade of legal challenges, only to face a difficult financing market.
- Bay Mills Indian Community opens casino in Vanderbilt, MI on fee land. Would probably be number 1 or 2 if it happened earlier in the year.
- Chief Justice Roberts dissent in North Carolina v. South Carolina. Mountain out of a molehill? Maybe, but still….
- Bloomberg report on Foxwoods default. Old news, but continuing to be important.
- Elena Kagan Appointment to Supreme Court. Plenty of speculation here on her (lack of an) Indian law record.
- Supreme Court 2010 October Term Preview.
- Possible Keith Harper Appointment to Tenth Circuit.
