The Interior Department abstained from responding to the petition. In a prior brief, the National Indian Gaming Commission backed the Interior Department’s choice to take land into trust, stating the group’s arguments did not hold under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA).
Ongoing Legal Battles
No Casino in Plymouth launched its legal challenge against the Interior Department and the NIGC in 2018, aiming to halt the Ione Band’s proposal for a “large Las Vegas-style casino” in Amador County.
However, the Ninth Circuit’s prior rulings had consistently sided with the tribe’s position. With the high court’s denial of the appeal, the tribe’s casino project may proceed without further legal obstacles from the advocacy group.
High Court Denies Tribals Hearing : Representatives Involved
The activist group is represented by Kenneth R. Williams. The government is represented by Todd Kim, Daniel Halainen, Rebecca M. Ross, and John L. Smeltzer of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, along with others. The Ione Band’s legal representation is provided by John A. Maier of Maier Pfeffer Kim Geary & Cohen LLP.
