Seminole Tribe of Florida v. Butterworth
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
658 F.2d 310 (1981)
- Written by Alex Hall, JD
Facts
The Seminole Tribe of Florida (the tribe) (plaintiff) initiated plans to build a bingo hall on its land. The county sheriff (defendant) threatened to arrest participants for violations of Florida’s laws against most forms of bingo. The county asserted jurisdiction under Public Law 280, which granted states criminal jurisdiction and limited civil jurisdiction over tribal lands. The state believed it had authority to apply the statute to the tribe and prohibit the construction of the bingo hall. The tribe brought suit, seeking declaratory judgment that Florida’s law did not apply to the tribe’s bingo hall. The district court ruled for the tribe. The sheriff appealed.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Morgan, J.)
Dissent (Roney, J.)
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