⚖ Oral Arguments, with Context

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Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria v. United States Department of the Interior, et al. — 9th Cir. (argued September 1, 2026)

No. 25-4604 and No. 25-6300 Argued September 1, 2026 Published September 2, 2026

The Ninth Circuit hears consolidated appeals over the Interior Department's decision to take the Shiloh parcel into trust for the Koi Nation, clearing a path toward a casino. The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria challenged the approval under federal historic-preservation, environmental, and Indian-gaming laws. The district court let the case proceed despite Koi's sovereign immunity, then vacated the approval; the parcel is now out of trust. Koi seeks dismissal under Rule 19; Graton and the United States ask the court to affirm the Rule 19 ruling.

Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria v. United States Department of the Interior, et al. (No. 25-4604 and No. 25-6300) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, argued September 1, 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/2026/09/01/25-4604.mp3
Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit:https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/cases/streams-videos/archive?case=25-4604&hearingDate=2026-09-01
Argument calendar — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit:https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/cases/calendar/calendar-week/?date=2026-09-01&loc=SF
Appellate docket No. 25-4604 — Justia:https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca9/25-4604
Appellate docket No. 25-6300 — Justia:https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca9/25-6300
Rule 19 order — U.S. District Court document mirror:https://turtletalk.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/127-dct-order.pdf
Summary-judgment and remand order — GovInfo:https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-cand-3_24-cv-08582/pdf/USCOURTS-cand-3_24-cv-08582-0.pdf
Koi Nation Shiloh project decision — U.S. Department of the Interior:https://www.bia.gov/as-ia/oig/gaming-decisions/koi-nation-northern-california-shiloh-resort-and-casino-project
Notice that the Shiloh site is out of trust — Federal Register:https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-04-02/pdf/2026-06434.pdf
25 U.S.C. § 5108 — U.S. House Office of the Law Revision Counsel:https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?edition=prelim&num=0&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title25-section5108
25 U.S.C. § 2719 — U.S. House Office of the Law Revision Counsel:https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?edition=prelim&num=0&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title25-section2719
Trust land acquisition — U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs:https://www.bia.gov/service/trust-land-acquisition
Argument report — Courthouse News Service:https://www.courthousenews.com/tribes-fight-at-ninth-circuit-for-land-development-rights/
Hagan Scotten — Hueston Hennigan:https://www.hueston.com/wp-content/uploads/tenrec-pdf-generator/Hagan%20Scotten.pdf
Neal Katyal — Milbank:https://www.milbank.com/en/professionals/neal-katyal.html
Combined-docket confirmation — Supreme Court of the United States filing:https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/26/26A178/418313/20260806140850657_Parasmo%20Extension%20Application.pdf
Daniel Halainen — official federal-court opinion:https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-ca9-25-2473/pdf/USCOURTS-ca9-25-2473-0.pdf

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