Source: https://openjurist.org/484/f2d/200
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 06:17:48+00:00

Document:
Michael Taylor, Washington, D. C. (argued), Legal Services Center, Seattle, Wash., for plaintiff-appellant.
Neil T. Proto, Seattle, Wash. (argued), Kent Frizzell, Wallace H. Johnson, Asst. Attys. Gen., Dept. of Justice, Washington, D. C., Stan Pitkin, U. S. Atty., Stuart Pierson, Thomas P. Giere, Asst. U. S. Attys., Seattle, Wash., Carl Strass, Dept. of Justice, Washington, D. C., for defendant-appellee.
Before HAMLIN and TRASK, Circuit Judges, and BELLONI,* District Judge.
This is an appeal from an order of the District Court for the Western District of Washington granting defendant-appellee's motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction. The court concluded that "the matters alleged in the complaint relate to a strictly intra-tribal matter."
The appellant, Stanley Johnson, is an enrolled member of the Lower Elwha Tribal Community, an Indian tribe organized under the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, 25 U.S.C. Sec. 476, (Wheeler-Howard Act) and located on land purchased by the United States in 1936 and 1937. This land was proclaimed to be the Lower Elwha Reservation in 1968.
"Title to any lands or rights acquired pursuant to sections [of this Act] shall be taken in the name of the United States in trust for the Indian tribe or individual Indian for which the land is acquired, . . ."
"To encumber, lease, permit, sell, assign, manage or provide for the management of community lands, interests in such lands . . . and to regulate the use and disposition of community property of all kinds, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Interior . . . ."
Thus it appears that the corporation, as recipient of the beneficial interest in the lands held in trust, vested the authority to assign the use and possession of community lands in the Tribal Community Council. Under a document labeled an "ordinance," (Standard Assignment Ordinance adopted by the Council in 1970, pursuant to the tribal constitution) these assignments were to be "made only to individuals who meet the requirements for membership." There is no dispute that appellant was a member of the community.
No tribal court or justice system was provided for, nor does any presently exist. Neither the constitution nor the by-laws adopted by the tribe give express consent for the tribe or its members to sue and be sued in any court system.
In August of 1970, appellant was assigned a ten-acre tract of land within the reservation for life, and in September he and his family moved onto that tract, improved it with a home and some fencing, and maintained a garden, an orchard and a herd of cattle.
On April 10, 1972, appellant was notified by letter that the Community Council had decided to instruct the tenant (Williams) not to pay rent to appellant, and that appellant could no longer have the use of the tract and improvements because in its opinion he had abandoned it. Appellant requested a hearing pursuant to the Standard Assignment Ordinance Sec. 2, which requires that an "as signee" shall be given notice and an opportunity to be heard before his assignment may be cancelled. It was not until April 24, 1972 at 3:30 p.m. that appellant was informed his hearing would be held the next evening, April 25 at 7:00 p.m. Appellant objected to the insufficient time, and did not appear the next evening so as not to acquiesce in what he deemed irregular procedure. It is not clear whether appellant ever requested another hearing, but no other hearing was set. The Tribal Community Council then cancelled appellant's assignment and ordered him not to enter upon that tract.
Appellant argues that the district court had jurisdiction over this action which he alleged to be a denial of due process and equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution; under the Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968, 25 U.S.C. Sec. 1302; under the constitution and bylaws of the Lower Elwha Tribal Community; and under the Standard Assignment Ordinance of the Community. Appellant alleges jurisdiction under 25 U. S.C. Sec. 1302, constitutional rights of Indians; 25 U.S.C. Sec. 476, organization of Indian tribes; and 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1331, federal question jurisdiction.
We hold that the district court could have assumed jurisdiction under 25 U.S.C. Sec. 1302(8) and 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1343(4),2 and remand for further proceedings on the merits of the alleged denial of due process.
We are persuaded that the Indian Civil Rights Act provides a jurisdictional basis for the federal district court because the Act evidences a Congressional exception to the general policy of immunity of Indian tribes from suit. Appellee contends that the Act by itself does not provide a sufficient statutory basis for federal jurisdiction, and that appellant's allegations of fact are insufficient to meet the requirements of a well-pleaded complaint. Appellee also urges that Johnson's present residence off the reservation precludes him from claiming the protections of the Act.
* * *The alleged conduct of the tribe in depriving appellant of his assignment and of his tenant without a meaningful opportunity to be heard falls within Sec. 1302(8). See, e.g., Armstrong v. Manzo, 380 U.S. 545, 85 S.Ct. 1187, 14 L.Ed.2d 62 (1965) (right to notice and opportunity to be heard must be granted at a meaningful time and in a meaningful manner).
Appellee contends that appellant did not have a vested property right that could be affected by tribal Council action, and thus failed to furnish a well-pleaded complaint. We find no basis for extending the well-pleaded complaint rules developed under 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1331 to another jurisdictional section, but regardless, we note that appellees agree that Johnson has at least been deprived of the interest in continued possession and use of his assignment, an interest which has been found to be significant and thus to come within the protection of the due process protection of the Fourteenth Amendment. Fuentes v. Shevin, 407 U.S. 67, 86, 92 S.Ct. 1983, 32 L.Ed.2d 556 (1972); Boddie v. Connecticut, 401 U.S. 371, 379, 91 S.Ct. 780, 28 L.Ed.2d 113 (1971).
Appellee's argument relating to Johnson's residence off the reservation goes to the abandonment issue, rather than to jurisdiction.
Having found jurisdiction under 25 U.S.C. Sec. 1302(8) and 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1343(4), we do not decide whether the district court also had jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1331 (see Dodge v. Nakai, 298 F.Supp. 17, 25 (D.Ariz.1968)) or whether, because of the plenary authority of Congress over Indian tribes and the lack of any system of justice on the Lower Elwha Reservation, the federal courts would have jurisdiction under 25 U.S.C. Sec. 476 until tribal courts were established. See Colliflower v. Garland, 342 F.2d 369 (9th Cir. 1965); 25 C.F.R. Sec. 11.1(d); cf. Settler v. Yakima Tribal Court, 419 F.2d 486 (9th Cir. 1969), cert. denied, 398 U.S. 903, 90 S.Ct. 1690, 26 L.Ed.2d 61 (1970); Littell v. Nakai, 344 F.2d 486 (9th Cir. 1965), cert. denied, 382 U.S. 986, 86 S.Ct. 531, 15 L. Ed.2d 474 (1966).
Reversed and remanded for further proceedings in light of this opinion.
"(4) To recover damages or to secure equitable or other relief under any Act of Congress providing for the protection of civil rights, . . ."
". . . any Indian tribe in exercising its powers of local self-government shall, with certain exceptions, be subject to the same limitations and restraints as those which are imposed on the Government of the United States by the Constitution."
It thus appears when the bill which was later enacted as 25 U.S.C. Sec. 1302 was before the House Subcommittee, it was the clear intention of that body that the due process restrictions of the bill should be interpreted in the same way when applied to a tribe as when applied to the United States or to the states.
"By a unanimous vote, the subcommittee sought to extend constitutional rights to the American Indians, . . .
". . . the substitute bill would grant to the American Indians enumerated constitutional rights and protection from arbitrary action in their relationship with tribal governments, . . ." 2 U.S. Code Cong. & Admin.News at p. 1864 (1968).
"No member shall be denied any of the rights or guarantees enjoyed by citizens under the constitution of the United States, including . . . due process of law." Article VII, Bill of Rights.

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