Days after the federal government and the Seminole Tribe of Florida filed their briefs, respectively, in the litigation over the 2021 Compact between the Tribe and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a significant group of tribal organizations, including the National Indian Gaming Association and individual tribes filed an amicus curiae brief with the D.C. Court of Appeals voicing support for the federal government’s efforts to reverse the decision of the District Court, which ended the brief appearance of regulated sports betting in the
In many ways, the tribal groups’ brief makes a number of arguments that appear more straightforward than some of the federal government’s arguments. The influence of amicus briefs is something that has varied, but given the number of groups that signed onto this brief, it is a significant showing of support for the reinstatement of the compact.
Whether it has any influence on the D.C. Court of Appeals in the FL sports betting matter, however, is something we will learn in time.
What is an amicus brief?
Before we dig into the brief, it is crucial to understand what an amicus brief is and is not.