The NARF Legal Review is published semi-annually and provides updates on NARF’s cases and information on other timely Indian law topics. The most recent edition examines some of NARF’s cases from the Fall of 2025 through Spring of 2026. NARF’s cases featured in this edition of the Legal Review include:
Celebrating 25 Year of the Tribal Supreme Court Project — The Tribal Supreme Court Project (TSCP) was established in 2001 by the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) and NARF to address the erosion of Tribal sovereignty in the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS). Since its inception, the TSCP has monitored 550 cases, supported every major federal Indian law case argued before the Court, and built a network of over 300 volunteers. These efforts have significantly improved outcomes for Tribes, with a
70% win rate in SCOTUS cases over the last decade, compared to an 80% loss rate before the Project’s creation.
Case Updates— Featuring: We have developed a comprehensive set of “Know Your Rights” resource to support Native Americans who may encounter U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and address reports of unlawful targeting and detention of Tribal citizens. These materials emphasize that Native Americans are U.S. citizens and that ICE generally lacks jurisdiction over them in immigration matters, while recognizing that enforcement actions have nonetheless impacted Native communities.
Additionally, NARF is supporting Tribal Nations in ongoing litigation before the Michigan Supreme Court challenging the approval of Enbridge’s proposed Line 5 oil tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac. The latest development occurred on March 11, 2026, when the court heard oral arguments in consolidated cases brought by Tribal Nations and environmental organizations seeking review of the Michigan Public Service Commission’s 2023 permit approval.
National Indian Law Library— Every Wednesday, the Indian Law Bulletins provide subscribers with a free round up of court opinions, legislation, regulatory updates, law review articles,
and news relevant to legal issues in Indian Country. National Indian Law Library (NILL) staff research updates in these many areas, tracking down items from a wide variety of sources.
Tribal Supreme Court Project—The Tribal Supreme Court Project is part of the Tribal Sovereignty Protection Initiative and is staffed by the National Congress of American
Indians (NCAI) and NARF. In 2026, the Project will commemorate 25 years of service furthering the interests of Tribal Nations and Native American people as they appear before the U.S. Supreme Court. The Project was formed in 2001 in response to a series of U.S. Supreme Court cases that negatively affected Tribal sovereignty. The Project’s purpose is to promote greater coordination and to improve strategy on litigation that may affect the rights of all Tribes. We encourage Tribal Nations and their attorneys to contact us to coordinate resources, develop strategy, and prepare briefs, especially at the time of the petition for a writ of certiorari. You can find copies of briefs and opinions on the major cases we track at sct.narf.org.
You can learn more about NARF’s work, current and past, in the Legal Review archive.
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