California argues sovereign immunity in tribal gaming suit

January 31, 2025

Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state of California are seeking to dismiss a lawsuit by the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians, arguing that state sovereign immunity bars the tribe’s claims over gaming compact negotiations. The tribe alleges the state failed to negotiate in good faith under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. A 2022 Ninth Circuit ruling previously limited California’s ability to include non-gaming provisions in compacts.

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