Opinion ID: 373964
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Constitutionality of Liquor Ordinance

Text: 19 Appellant Goetz's appeal is based upon the district court's decision not to rule on the constitutionality of the tribal ordinance of 1974. 9 Because Goetz did not present any evidence to the district court to show that her business establishment within the reservation was within a non-Indian community, the district court found such establishment not to be located in a non-Indian community. As Goetz is on the reservation she is in Indian country and if she intends to sell liquor, must comply with section 1161 which requires both the state license and the tribal license in question unless the ordinance is, in fact, unconstitutional. Upon remand we direct the district court to pass on this issue. 20 It has already been decided that Congress can delegate its authority to control the introduction of alcoholic beverages into Indian country; that the delegation of such authority, including the distribution and use of intoxicants, to an Indian tribe is proper; and that the authority of a tribal court can extend over non-Indians insofar as concerns their transactions on a reservation with Indians. Mazurie at 557-58, 95 S.Ct. 710, Supra. 21 It also is true that certain constitutional restraints have been imposed upon a tribe passing such an ordinance in that § 202 of Pub.L. No. 90-284, 82 Stat. 77, 25 U.S.C. § 1302, states: No Indian tribe in exercising powers of self-government shall    (8) deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of its laws or deprive any person of liberty or property without due process of law. The Supreme Court in Mazurie did note the possible availability of the fifth amendment to correct arbitrary or discriminatory tribal exercise of delegated federal authority. Mazurie at 558 n.12, 95 S.Ct. 710, Supra. This court, however, declines to pass on this question until it is first decided by the district court. 22 Reversed and remanded for further action by the trial court consistent with the views expressed in this opinion.