U.S. Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Neil Gorsuch on Monday appeared skeptical of the federal government's argument that it has no obligation to develop a plan to provide the Navajo Nation with an adequate water supply.
raised by the U.S. government and a coalition of Western states to a lower court’s decision that revived a long-running dispute brought by the Navajo Nation against the U.S.said there is an “irreversible and dramatically important trust duty” implied by 175 years’ worth of treaties and court decisions to ensure access to water from the Colorado River.
Frederick Liu, an attorney for the federal government, argued Monday the United States’ trust obligations were “limited,” and said there’s nothing stopping the Navajo Nation from attempting to establish water rights on its own.“You don’t think there’s a fiduciary agreement at all?” said Sotomayor, a liberal justice. “That’s quite an odd agreement the tribe entered into, isn't it?”
The Navajo Nation’s suit was filed in 2003. It aims to get the U.S. Interior Department to determine whether the Little Colorado River — a tributary that runs through the reservation that covers northeastern Arizona and parts of Utah and New Mexico — is sufficient “to fulfill the reservation’s purpose of establishing a permanent homeland for the Nation”.
Norge Siste Nytt, Norge Overskrifter
Similar News:Du kan også lese nyheter som ligner på denne som vi har samlet inn fra andre nyhetskilder.
Navajo Nation’s quest for water and justice arrives at the Supreme CourtThe Navajo Nation filed a lawsuit in 2003 arguing that the U.S. government has a duty to assess the nation’s water needs and ensure it has enough. After lengthy litigation, that case is now before the Supreme Court, which hears oral arguments on Monday.
Les mer »
Supreme Court hears Navajo Nation case for access to Colorado River waterThe Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Monday in a case with major implications for how water from the drought-stricken Colorado River is shared and how the U.S. government honors obligations to Native American tribes.
Les mer »
Feds want Supreme Court to end Navajo fight for Colorado River waterStates that rely on water from the over-tapped Colorado River want the U.S. Supreme Court to block a lawsuit from the Navajo Nation that could upend how water is shared in the Western U.S.
Les mer »
Navajo Nation fight over Colorado River water rights hits Supreme Court'The Nation is still waiting for the water it needs,' the tribe writes in court papers, asking the justices to greenlight a 'breach-of-trust claim' in federal court.
Les mer »
Navajo Nation fight over Colorado River water rights hits Supreme CourtWASHINGTON — On the nation's largest Native American reservation – spanning 16 million-acres across Arizona, New Mexico and Utah – one in three households lacks running water, according to the Navajo Nation.
Les mer »
Supreme Court weighs Navajo Nation water rights disputeThe Supreme Court on Monday considers whether to allow the Navajo Nation to pursue a claim that the federal government has a duty to address the Native American tribe's water rights.
Les mer »