California Court of Appeal

The Fair Political Practices Commission can sue a federally recognized Indian tribe to enforce California law regarding the reporting of political campaign contributions and lobbying activities. The constitutional right of the State to sue to preserve its republican form of government trumps the common law doctrine of tribal immunity.

Appellate Information

• Decided 03/03/2004
• Published 03/03/2004

Judges

• SIMS, J.

Court

• California Court of Appeal

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Reed Smith Crosby Heafey, Bernard P. Simons, Century City, James C. Martin, George P. Schiavelli, Denise M. Howell, Los Angeles;  Law Offices of Art Bunce, Art Bunce, Escondido, Kathryn Clenney;  Reed & Davidson, Dana W. Reed and Darryl R. Wold, Irvine, for petitioner., Riegels Campos & Kenyon, Charity Kenyon, Sacramento;  Fair Political Practices Commission, Steven Benito Russo, Luisa Menchaca, Sacramento, William L. Williams, Jr., Rio Oso, and Holly B. Armstrong for Real Party in Interest., Bill Lockyer, Attorney General, Andrea Lynn Hoch, Louis R. Mauro, Assistant Attorneys General, Kenneth R. Williams, Robert C. Nash, Deputy Attorneys General for the Attorney General;  Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe, John C. Ulin and D. Eric Shapland, Los Angeles, for California Common Cause, Amici Curiae on behalf of Real Party in Interest.


• For Appellees:
  
• No appearance for Respondent.