Case Summary
**Case Summary: David Patchak v. Sally Jewell**
**Docket Number:** 3064218
**Court:** United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
**Argued:** [Insert Date Here]
**Decided:** [Insert Date Here]
**Judges:** [Insert Names of Judges Here]
**Background:**
David Patchak filed a lawsuit against Sally Jewell, who was the Secretary of the Interior, challenging the federal government's decision to take a parcel of land in Michigan into trust for the purpose of establishing a casino operated by the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians (the Band). Patchak, a neighboring landowner, argued that the decision violated the Indian Reorganization Act (IRA) because the Band was not recognized as a tribe under the IRA at the time of the land acquisition.
**Issues:**
The primary legal issues in the case revolved around:
1. Whether Patchak had standing to challenge the trust land decision.
2. The interpretation of the IRA and the authority of the federal government to take land into trust for tribes recognized after the IRA's enactment.
3. The level of judicial review applicable to the Secretary of the Interior's decision.
**Arguments:**
- **Plaintiff (Patchak):** Argued that he had a direct and adverse interest affected by the decision to take the land into trust, particularly regarding potential impacts on property values, increased traffic, and environmental concerns. Patchak contended that the Band's recognition and the subsequent land acquisition violated statutory requirements.
- **Defendant (Jewell):** Contended that Patchak lacked standing as he did not demonstrate particularized injury. The government also defended the legality of the land trust decision under the provisions of the IRA, asserting that the Band was recognized and therefore entitled to the benefits of the Act.
**Court Holding:**
The D.C. Circuit Court's decision addressed the issues of standing and statutory interpretation under the IRA. The court ultimately ruled on whether Patchak had standing to pursue his claims and whether the Secretary of the Interior's decision fell within her discretionary power.
**Impact:**
This case highlighted the ongoing legal complexities surrounding land trust decisions by the federal government under the IRA, as well as contentious interactions between state and tribal governance. It underscored the implications of federal policy regarding Native American tribes and nuanced property rights.
**Conclusion:**
The outcome of David Patchak v. Sally Jewell was significant for both property law and the relationship between state and tribal entities. It clarified essential aspects of standing in administrative decisions and the regulatory scope under the Indian Reorganization Act.
**Note:** The exact dates of argument and decision, as well as judges’ names and any specific quotations or legal precedents cited, should be included to complete the case summary.