Advising - and Suing - Tribal Officials: On the Scope of Tribal Official Immunity

55 Pages Posted: 20 Feb 2009 Last revised: 8 Mar 2009

See all articles by Matthew L. M. Fletcher

Matthew L. M. Fletcher

University of Michigan Law School

Kathryn E Fort

Michigan State University - College of Law

Date Written: February 20, 2009

Abstract

This research paper, prepared for the 2009 Federal Bar Association Annual Indian Law Conference, offers a comprehensive overview of the law of tribal official immunity in federal courts. Federal courts apply the Ex parte Young doctrine to tribal officials. Tribal officials tend to be immune from suit in federal court unless a plaintiff alleges a violation of federal law and there is an independent federal court cause of action. Tribal officials are immune if the plaintiff alleges a violation of tribal law, or otherwise merely seek to reach the tribal coffers.

Keywords: tribal official immunity, Ex parte Young, official immunity

Suggested Citation

Fletcher, Matthew L. M. and Fort, Kathryn E, Advising - and Suing - Tribal Officials: On the Scope of Tribal Official Immunity (February 20, 2009). MSU Legal Studies Research Paper No. 07-02, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1346977 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1346977

Matthew L. M. Fletcher

University of Michigan Law School ( email )

500 S. State Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
United States

HOME PAGE: http://https://michigan.law.umich.edu/faculty-and-scholarship/our-faculty/matthew-lm-fletcher

Kathryn E Fort (Contact Author)

Michigan State University - College of Law ( email )

648 N. Shaw Lane
Ste. 215K
East Lansing, MI 48824-1300
United States

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