Carcieri, Governor of Rhode Island, et al. v. Salazar, Secretary of the Interior, et al., No. 07-526; U.S. Supreme Court; opinion by Thomas, J.; concurrence by Breyer, J.; partial dissent by Souter, J.; dissent by Stevens, J.; decided February 24, 2009. On certiorari to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
The Indian Reorganization Act (IRA), enacted in 1934, authorizes the Secretary of Interior, a respondent here, to acquire land and hold it in trust “for the purpose of providing land for Indians,” 25 U.S.C. § 465, and defines “Indian” to “include all persons of Indian descent who are members of any recognized tribe now under Federal jurisdiction,” § 479.
