Native American tribes win big at the Supreme Court

An eight-justice Supreme Court just decided a major Indian law case by, well, not deciding it. The justices split 4-4 and issued a per curiam decision, or a decision on behalf of the court that doesn’t specify how each justice voted. Any time the court splits, the lower court’s decision stands.

The litigation in question surrounds the salmon rights of 21 Northwest Indian tribes who, along with the federal government, sued the state of Washington to replace nearly 1,000 culverts.

Washington Indian law and water rights attorney J. Nathanael Watson explains the immediate implications:

This decision could impact more than just Washington’s culverts, including, potentially, a variety of development, construction, and farming practices throughout the Northwest.

More at link:

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/6/12/1771368/-Native-American-tribes-win-big-at-the-Supreme-Court