Amicus Brief Filed in the DC Circuit Court of Appeals. Rothe v. Department of Defense and the Small Business Administration

By: Christine V. Williams on 04/28/2016

Christine V. Williams filed an Amicus brief on behalf of the amici, which include: Native American Contractors Association, Alaska Federation of Natives, Alaska Native Village Corporation Association, National Congress of American Indians, Sovereign Omaha Tribe of Nebraska, Sovereign Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, Great Plains Tribal Chairman’s Association, ANCSA Regional Association, The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development, Native American Finance Officers Association, The Cherokee Nation, Cherokee Nation Businesses, and U.S. Congressman Don Young in support of the Department of Defense and the SBA.

This brief was of vital importance because it distinguished the relationship between Native American groups and the U.S. Government in regards to the 8(a) Program. In short, this brief established for the Court the unique relationship that U.S. Government has with Native Americans, which should not be reviewed under racial classification standards.