AUGUSTA - The Federal First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston today ruled in favor of the State of Maine in a case brought by the Penobscot Nation in 2012. The Penobscot Nation sued the State after then Attorney General Bill Schneider wrote to the Nation to express his opinion that only the State of Maine had authority to stop or otherwise regulate paddlers, hunters or anglers on the river.

The Nation filed suit to assert ownership of the entire river.

The Federal District Court and the First Circuit Court of Appeals both agreed with the State of Maine. The First Circuit's decision  said that the State of Maine has not interfered and does not intend to interfere with the sustenance fishing rights of the Penobscot Nation.

Read the opinion in the attached PDF