No. 25-165

Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians v. Michigan, et al.

Lower Court: Sixth Circuit
Docketed: 2025-08-12
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Response Waived Experienced Counsel
Tags: district-court equitable-relief inherent-power injunctive-standards treaty-rights tribal-sovereignty
Key Terms:
Privacy
Latest Conference: 2026-01-09
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether a district court has inherent equitable power to enter a coercive decree restricting an Indian tribe's treaty rights without its consent and without satisfying this Court's well-established standards for injunctive relief

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

Whether a district court has “inherent equitable power” to enter a coercive “decree” restricting an Indian tribe’s treaty rights without its consent and without satisfying this Court’s well-established standards for injunctive relief. (ii)

Docket Entries

2026-01-12
Petition DENIED.
2025-12-23
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/9/2026.
2025-12-15
Waiver of Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians of the 14-day waiting period submitted.
2025-12-15
Reply of Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians submitted.
2025-12-15
Reply of petitioner Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians filed.
2025-12-15
Waiver of the 14-day waiting period of Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians submitted.
2025-12-15
Waiver of the 14-day waiting period for the distribution of the petition pursuant to Rule 15.5 filed by petitioner.
2025-12-03
Brief of Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, et al. in opposition submitted.
2025-12-03
Brief of Federal Respondents in opposition submitted.
2025-12-03
Brief of respondent United States in opposition filed.
2025-12-03
Brief of respondents Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, et al. in opposition filed.
2025-11-05
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including December 3, 2025, for all respondents.
2025-11-04
Motion of Federal Respondents for an extension of time submitted.
2025-11-04
Motion to extend the time to file a response from November 10, 2025 to December 3, 2025, submitted to The Clerk.
2025-09-08
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including November 10, 2025, for all respondents.
2025-09-05
Motion of Little River Band of Ottawa Indians for an extension of time submitted.
2025-09-05
Motion of the Bay Mills Indian Community, et al. to extend the time to file a response from September 11, 2025 to November 10, 2025, submitted to The Clerk.
2025-08-26
Waiver of right of respondents Michigan, and its agents, et al. to respond filed.
2025-08-26
Waiver of right of respondents State of Mich, and its agents; Chief, Fisheries Div, DNR, et al. to respond filed.
2025-08-26
Waiver of State of Mich, and its agents; Chief, Fisheries Div, DNR; Chief, Law Enf Div, DNR; Chief, Wildlife Div, DNR; K. L. Cool, Dir, DNR; Mich Nat Res Comm; Henry J. Vondett, Acting Chief, Fisheries Div; Res Mgmt Dep Dir, DNR of right to respond submitted.
2025-08-08
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due September 11, 2025)
2025-05-30
Application (24A1171) granted by Justice Kavanaugh extending the time to file until August 10, 2025.
2025-05-28
Application (24A1171) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from June 11, 2025 to August 10, 2025, submitted to Justice Kavanaugh.

Attorneys

Federal Respondents
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Respondent
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Respondent
Little River Band of Ottawa Indians
Riyaz Amir KanjiKanji & Kantzen, P.L.L.C., Respondent
Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, et al.
Riyaz Amir KanjiKanji & Kantzen, P.L.L.C., Respondent
Michigan, and its agents; Chief, Fisheries Div, DNR, et al.
Ann Maurine ShermanMichigan Department of Attorney General, Respondent
Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians
Seth P. WaxmanWilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, Petitioner
Seth P. WaxmanWilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, Petitioner
State of Mich, and its agents; Chief, Fisheries Div, DNR; Chief, Law Enf Div, DNR; Chief, Wildlife Div, DNR; K. L. Cool, Dir, DNR; Mich Nat Res Comm; Henry J. Vondett, Acting Chief, Fisheries Div; Res Mgmt Dep Dir, DNR
Ann Maurine ShermanMichigan Department of Attorney General, Respondent