No. 25-313

Chinook Indian Nation, et al. v. Doug Burgum, Secretary of the Interior, et al.

Lower Court: Ninth Circuit
Docketed: 2025-09-17
Status: Pending
Type: Paid
Amici (1)Response RequestedResponse Waived
Tags: administrative-law court-recognition federal-jurisdiction indian-law statutory-interpretation tribal-recognition
Key Terms:
Securities
Latest Conference: 2025-11-07
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Does a federal court have jurisdiction to recognize the existence of an Indian tribe where the findings in the Indian Tribe List Act provide that 'Indian Tribes presently may be recognized by . . . a decision of a United States court,' and no other federal statute addresses the question of tribal recognition?

Question Presented (from Petition)

Does a federal court have jurisdiction to recognize the existence of an Indian tribe where the findings in the Indian Tribe List Act, Public Law 103 -454, sec. 103(3), provide that “Indian Tribes presently may be recognized by . . . a decision of a United States court,” and no other federal statute addresses the question of tribal recognition?

Docket Entries

2026-01-09
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including February 17, 2026. See Rule 30.1.
2026-01-07
Motion of Douglas J. Burgum, et al. for an extension of time submitted.
Main Document
2026-01-07
Motion to extend the time to file a response from January 14, 2026 to February 16, 2026, submitted to The Clerk.
Main Document
2025-12-10
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including January 14, 2026.
2025-12-09
Motion of Douglas J. Burgum, et al. for an extension of time submitted.
Main Document
2025-12-09
Motion to extend the time to file a response from December 15, 2025 to January 14, 2026, submitted to The Clerk.
Main Document
2025-11-05
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including December 15, 2025.
2025-11-04
Motion of Douglas J. Burgum, et al. for an extension of time submitted.
Main Document
2025-11-04
Motion to extend the time to file a response from November 13, 2025 to December 15, 2025, submitted to The Clerk.
Main Document
2025-10-27
Amicus brief of Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians submitted.
Main DocumentCertificate of Word CountProof of Service
2025-10-16
Brief amicus curiae of Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians filed.
Main DocumentProof of ServiceCertificate of Word Count
2025-10-14
Response Requested. (Due November 13, 2025)
2025-10-08
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 11/7/2025.
2025-09-30
Waiver of right of respondent Douglas J. Burgum, et al. to respond filed.
Main Document
2025-09-12
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due October 17, 2025)
PetitionAppendixCertificate of Word CountProof of Service

Attorneys

Chinook Indian Nation, et al.
James S. Coon — Thomas, Coon, Newton & Frost, Petitioner
James S. Coon — Thomas, Coon, Newton & Frost, Petitioner
James S. Coon — Thomas, Coon, Newton & Frost, Petitioner
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians
Craig Jones Dorsay — Dorsay & Easton LLP, Amicus
Craig Jones Dorsay — Dorsay & Easton LLP, Amicus
Craig Jones Dorsay — Dorsay & Easton LLP, Amicus
Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians
Craig Jones Dorsay — Dorsay Easton LLP, Amicus
Craig Jones Dorsay — Dorsay Easton LLP, Amicus
Douglas J. Burgum, et al.
D. John Sauer — Solicitor General, Respondent
D. John Sauer — Solicitor General, Respondent
D. John Sauer — Solicitor General, Respondent