Court Opinion

ID: 8882631
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-26 20:59:27.593896+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:06:44.450455
License: Public Domain

On Petitions for Rehearing

PER CURIAM.
Subsequent to our decision of January 26, 1970, the Seneca Nation of Indians sought and was granted leave to intervene in order to present what was called a petition for rehearing. In fact the petition does not challenge our decision but objects to certain statements in the opinion that the Seneca Leasing Act of 1950, 64 Stat. 442, terminated the right of the Senecas to make leases in accordance with general federal Indian leasing laws. On the Senecas' view the repealer provision, § 7, referred only to the earlier Seneca Leasing Acts, 18 Stat. 330 (1875) and 26 Stat. 558 (1890), and the 1950 statute thus left the Senecas free to make leases either in accordance with general federal legislation or “for such purposes and such periods as may be permitted by the laws of the State of New York.” This position is supported by a letter from the Acting Commissioner of Indian Affairs dated March 14, 1963, not previously brought to our attention. While we find it unnecessary to decide the issue, we think the Senecas’ position may well have merit and consequently withdraw any statements in the opinion inconsistent with it. Although such statements tended toward our conclusion that “as may be permitted” meant “as shall not be prohibited” rather than “as may be specifically permitted,” they were by no means essential and we would reach the same result if the position now taken by the Senecas is correct.
The petition of the Seneca Nation is granted to the extent indicated and is otherwise denied. The petition of the United States for rehearing is denied.