10th Circuit Corner Crossing Ruling: What does this mean for MT?

Saw some giants up on that flat from the opposing mountain range over the years.



I’m not sure if I’m more excited about trying to access the ones I’ve always wanted but never had the balls to, or more disappointed all the ones I’ve already accessed and saw minimal people and nobody seemed to give AF about that everyone else will now.
Look forward to the story. mtmuley
 
Nice work folks.

Just as an aside, Chief Justice Swanson represented Citizens for Balanced Use at the legislature, not UPOM.

He did represent CBU, UPOM & a few legislators on a bison lawsuit.
CBU.UPOM. SFW. Some other orgs.

Really all the same interests - behind them.
 
So would it be best to cross from federal to federal? Keep the state land out of it? Or rather, find someone blocking access at the corner of federal to federal? Man if I wasn’t moving out of state and knew I had the manpower of HT and its proponents behind me I’d be so down…

Hey, that brings up another good question; do you think it played any role that these dudes were outta-staters? Would it be better if I did this as a 10th circuit resident? Because I will be…

isnt this textbook definition of conspiracy?

Would it ACTUALLY be conspiracy to commit any crimes? Or is this ultimately unbinding us from the crimes?

“Conspiracy to commit criminal trespass” by crossing one piece of public land to another… 🤔 @Elky Welky
 
I don’t think ol Ted would be too thrilled about corner crossing on federal land… just need to see if there’s anything posted that you cannot cross right? That would imply an enclosure?
 
In Montana I'm pretty sure it specifically defines legal access to state land. You can't fly into it, might open up a big can of worms if one corner crossed onto state.
 
There's some excellent language in the opinion, specifically regarding the public's right to claim that a landowner that intentionally creates a barrier of access to public land at a corner could be civilly liable for nuisance. This would be one of the better approaches in Montana. If a landowner attempts to create an unlawful enclosure by blocking access at the corner, the public could sue them and potentially win under the logic of the 10th Circuit's ruling:

"When a landowner denies checkerboard access, he imposes a proscribable nuisance under federal law,'notwithstanding' such action may involve an entry upon the lands of a private individual.” Camfield, 167 U.S. at 525."

"The core principle of the UIA (the Unlawful Inclosures Act), as reiterated in Bergen, is that a landowner cannot maintain a barrier “which encloses public lands and prevents” access for a “lawful purpose.” Bergen, 848 F.2d at 1511–12. The barrier itself is not a UIA violation—but it becomes one when its effect is to inclose."
As someone who dabbles in the law for a day job, I agree this would be the best "low risk, high reward" tactic. I haven't read the whole 10th Cir opinion yet, but I am curious as to how the 9th Cir would approach this. The Tenth is generally more conservative than the Ninth in their rulings, and my initial impression is the 9th would be favorable to the same logic. Problem is, the 9th generally goes rogue and creates its own unique case law and interpretations distinct from the majority of the circuits for whatever reason.

I likewise do have concerns that some jack*ss will do something stupid and screw this whole thing up. If you could tee up a case at the right location with the right facts, I think this would be a fun case to argue with a pretty decent likelihood of success.
 
As someone who dabbles in the law for a day job, I agree this would be the best "low risk, high reward" tactic. I haven't read the whole 10th Cir opinion yet, but I am curious as to how the 9th Cir would approach this. The Tenth is generally more conservative than the Ninth in their rulings, and my initial impression is the 9th would be favorable to the same logic. Problem is, the 9th generally goes rogue and creates its own unique case law and interpretations distinct from the majority of the circuits for whatever reason.

I likewise do have concerns that some jack*ss will do something stupid and screw this whole thing up. If you could tee up a case at the right location with the right facts, I think this would be a fun case to argue with a pretty decent likelihood of success.
@MTGomer how do you feel about finding some property corners :)
 
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