Penobscot River Litigation

The Penobscot Nation sought declaratory and injunctive relief to protect its rights in the main stem of the Penobscot River. The Nation asserted that the Penobscot Reservation included the waters surrounding the islands in the main stem of the river. The State of Maine contended that the Reservation is limited to only the islands themselves, and not the river. After federal District court and federal Circuit court rulings in favor of the State’s position, the Supreme Court declined to review the case.