United States Second Circuit

In a suit brought by the Cayuga Nation seeking declaratory relief, contending that the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, 25 U.S.C. sections 2701‐2721, preempts the defendants' efforts to enforce a local anti-gambling ordinance against a gaming facility located on land owned by plaintiffs, the District Court's dismissal for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and Article III standing is reversed where the district court had jurisdiction because: 1) the Bureau of Indian Affairs had recognized Clint Halftown, who initiated this suit, as the Cayuga Nation's 'federal representative,' thereby relieving the court of the need to resolve questions of tribal law; and 2) the individual plaintiffs had standing to challenge the anti‐gaming ordinance.

Appellate Information

• Published 2016/06/02

Judges

• LYNCH

Court

• United States Second Circuit

Counsel