There are two updates to share with the community in regard to the First Circuit Court of appeals in Boston and the separate case in the D.C. District Court.

On Thursday, February 27 the federal appeals court in Boston issued a ruling in the case. The three-judge panel refused to overturn a lower court ruling that said the federal government shouldn’t have held land in trust under category two. The Tribe’s land will not be taken out of trust as a result of this ruling.

The D.C. District Court has appointed a new judge to preside over the case. Judge Rosemary Collyer was replaced by Judge Paul Friedman. Judge Friedman was appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1994. The Tribe is currently waiting for oral arguments in this case.