⚖ Oral Arguments, with Context

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State of Alaska v. Newland, et al. — 9th Cir. (argued August 12, 2026)

No. 24-5280 & 24-5285 Argued August 12, 2026 Published August 14, 2026; updated August 18, 2026

The Ninth Circuit hears Alaska's appeal over whether the Interior Secretary may take land into trust for Alaska tribes after the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. The Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes owns a 787-square-foot parcel in Juneau and asked Interior to take it into trust. The district court vacated Interior's approval and sent the application back for further proceedings, but rejected Alaska's argument that the 1971 law ended the Secretary's authority. Alaska asks the court to review that ruling now. Interior and the Tribe say the remand makes the appeal premature.

State of Alaska v. Newland, et al. (No. 24-5280 & 24-5285) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, argued August 12, 2026.

Sources
Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105):https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/media/2026/08/12/24-5280.mp3
Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit:https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/cases/streams-videos/archive?case=24-5280&hearingDate=2026-08-12
District court order — State of Alaska v. Newland:https://law.alaska.gov/pdf/press/240626-Order.pdf
Notice of appeal — State of Alaska:https://law.alaska.gov/pdf/press/240823-Appeal.pdf
Land-acquisition notice — U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs:https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2022-11-29/pdf/2022-26042.pdf
Independent case report — Alaska Beacon:https://alaskabeacon.com/2024/06/20/federal-judge-considers-lawsuit-that-could-decide-alaska-tribes-ability-to-put-land-into-trust/
Appellate docket mirror and counsel record — Justia:https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca9/24-5280
Current counsel directory — Alaska Department of Law:https://www.law.alaska.gov/department/civil/OAE.html
Counsel profile — Lloyd B. Miller, Sonosky Chambers:https://www.sonosky.com/attorney-profile-13.html

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