Opinion ID: 777929
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Uniformity of Federal Law

Text: 15 Third, although we are by no means compelled to follow the decisions of other circuits, there is virtue in uniformity of federal law as construed by the federal circuits. James v. Sunrise Hosp., 86 F.3d 885, 889 (9th Cir.1996). Where, as here, every other circuit to have addressed an important question of federal law has reached a common result, we give some weight to the interest in uniformity. 16 We therefore join four other circuits in holding that an unincorporated Indian tribe is not a citizen of any state within the meaning of § 1332(a)(1). 5 Table Mountain, as an unincorporated tribe, is not a citizen of California (or any other state), so complete diversity in this action does not exist. American Vantage cannot alter that fact by joining the tribe's casino as an additional defendant. The casino, as an unincorporated arm of the tribe, also is a stateless entity. See Ninigret, 207 F.3d at 27 (We see no reason why ... an arm of the Tribe, not separately incorporated[ ] should be treated any differently [from the Tribe] for jurisdictional purposes.); Gaines, 8 F.3d at 730. 6