Supreme Court Rules, Against Navajo Nation's , Water Rights Case.
On June 22, the United States Supreme Court
ruled against the Navajo Nation in a legal
dispute about water from the Colorado River.
'The Independent' reports that
the justices sided with the states that
draw water from the river by a vote of 5-4.
Prior to the decision, the state of Colorado
argued that siding with the Navajo Nation
would undermine existing agreements.
The Biden administration also argued that
a decision in favor of the Navajo Nation could set
a precedent for lawsuits from many other tribes. .
'The Independent' reports that lawyers representing
the Navajo counter that their request was modest,
asking only for an assessment of the tribe's
water needs and plans to meet them. .
A 1968 treaty established the reservation as
the tribe's "permanent home," which the Navajo
claim includes a sufficient supply of water.
In 2003, the Navajo sued the federal
government, accusing it of failing
to protect the tribe's water rights.
In his dissenting opinion, Justice Neil Gorsuch characterized the Navajo's position as a “simple ask.”.
Where do the Navajo go from here?
To date, their efforts to find out what
water rights the United States holds
for them have produced an experience
familiar to any American who has spent
time at the Department of Motor Vehicles. , Neil Gorsuch, Supreme Court Justice, via 'The Independent'.
The Navajo have waited patiently
for someone, anyone, to help them,
only to be told (repeatedly) that they
have been standing in the wrong
line and must try another, Neil Gorsuch, Supreme Court Justice, via 'The Independent'