Published on: January 14, 2026, at 07:38h.
Updated on: January 14, 2026, at 07:38h.
- Judge rejects motion for reconsideration, upholding the prior denial of emergency relief.
- CERA and residents contest the federal acknowledgment and land-into-trust rulings.
- This ruling advances the Acorn Ridge Casino project towards its anticipated spring launch.
A federal judge in Washington D.C. has delivered a decisive blow to a late-stage legal effort aimed at halting the Ione Band of Miwok Indians from establishing a $110 million casino in Plymouth, California, located in Amador County.
Construction for the Acorn Ridge Casino, envisioned as a “boutique” gaming facility, has begun on the tribe’s 228 acres of trust land in Plymouth, with an expected spring opening date. This marks a significant milestone after 18 years of legal struggles, although the tribe still faces one last hurdle.
While the tribe has gained federal recognition and trust land approval, adversaries are pushing to invalidate these decisions retrospectively.
Claims of ‘Unconstitutionality’
Local residents, alongside the Citizens Equal Rights Alliance (CERA), have filed a suit against the U.S. Department of the Interior, disputing its choice to recognize the tribe federally, which is crucial for casino operations.
The tribe received recognition in 1994, and in 2023, the federal government entrusted 228 acres of land to the tribe. This process partially exempts the land from state control, providing the tribe with enhanced autonomy over taxation, development, land management, and gaming.
The plaintiffs argue that the federal trust relationship with Native American nations is unconstitutional, claiming that the government’s recognition decision exceeds its constitutional authority.
They also allege that the proposed casino would have a considerable local impact, particularly by overwhelming a narrow county road that serves as the only access to their residences and is a commuter route for Plymouth.
The government has dismissed these assertions, maintaining that the decisions regarding federal recognition and land-into-trust are supported by established law and precedent.
Denial of Motion
On Friday, U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan issued a short order refusing the request for reconsideration.
The plaintiffs contended that the Interior Department was intentionally extending litigation to allow construction of the casino to commence before a court ruling could evaluate their claims substantively. They argued that if the casino opens in the spring as scheduled, their lawsuit would become effectively moot.
This ruling upholds Sullivan’s decision from December 12, which denied the plaintiffs’ application for emergency relief that would have temporarily halted the Interior Department’s actions while the lawsuit is underway.