The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals has reached a decision on a case from North Dakota, announced on March 20, 2025. The case in question is McKenzie County, ND v. United States, under U.S. Court of Appeals Case No: 24-1177.
The court's decision involves a dispute over mineral royalties on certain lands located in McKenzie County, North Dakota. In the legal proceedings, McKenzie County claimed ownership of these royalty interests and argued that previous litigation had resolved the issue. However, the United States countered that the earlier litigation concerned different lands and that the county's claim was not filed in time.
Initially, the district court ruled in favor of McKenzie County. However, upon appeal by the United States, the 8th Circuit Court reversed this judgment. The court stated it had jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 to make this decision.
For those interested in more details about the ruling, the full opinion can be accessed at: https://ecf.ca8.uscourts.gov/opndir/25/03/241177P.pdf