Federal Judge Orders Roads Open on Wisconsin Reservation

A federal judge has ordered the U.S. government to keep roads open on the Lac du Flambeau reservation in Wisconsin, providing temporary relief to non-tribal homeowners who depend on these routes for access to their properties. U.S. District Judge William Conley issued a preliminary injunction amid an ongoing dispute between the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, the town of Lac du Flambeau, and over 70 non-tribal property owners. The tribe, which granted easements for public access in the 1960s, is now demanding up to $20 million for right-of-way access after the original easements expired approximately a decade ago. The tribe previously barricaded the roads, allowing only limited access, and has threatened to block them again if the town does not make a payment by October 2023. The U.S. Department of Justice is involved in the case, having sued on the tribe's behalf for damages against the town for trespassing. The judge's injunction prevents the government from blocking the roads while the lawsuit is ongoing, but it does not extend to the tribe due to potential sovereign immunity issues.