The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to rehear a case against the Jamul Indian Village of San Diego County. Neighbors of the village, represented by the Jamul Action Committee (JAC), oppose the tribe’s gaming hall, originally called the Hollywood Casino, now the Jamul Casino.
JAC disputed the National Indian Gaming Commission’s decision that the tribe was a legitimate federal tribe. The committee claims the tribe does not actually have federal recognition.
In September 2020, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the claim, claiming that Congress had clarified the tribe’s status previously. JAC tried a different route, citing a decision by the High Court “held that the use of the term ‘recognized’ with respect to Indian tribes is not a ‘term of art’ that equates with ‘federally recognized tribe.’”
Nevertheless, the Supreme Court declined to take up the case.
