Fontenot v. Hunter
This text of 378 F. Supp. 3d 1075 (Fontenot v. Hunter) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.
Opinion
CHARLES B. GOODWIN, United States District Judge
Now before the Court is Plaintiff Peggy Fontenot's Motion for Summary Judgment *1081(Doc. No. 32) and Defendant Mike Hunter's Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. No. 35), filed in his official capacity as Attorney General of Oklahoma (referred to herein as "the State"). The parties have responded and replied, each seeking relief in his or her favor under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 on the constitutionality of Oklahoma's American Indian Arts and Crafts Sales Act of 1974 (codified as amended at
The State Act regulates a maker's or merchant's marketing of arts and crafts as "American Indian" in origin and prohibits the sale of improperly designated works. In 2016, the State Act was amended to exclude from its definition of "American Indian" all persons but citizens or enrolled members of a federally recognized tribe. Plaintiff-who is a member of the Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia, a tribe recognized by the State of Virginia but not by the United States-brings this action "to vindicate ... [her] constitutional rights to truthfully market her art in Oklahoma, participate in the interstate market for American Indian art and crafts, and enjoy her right to earn a living in a lawful occupation of her choice." Compl. (Doc. No. 1) ¶ 1. She has described those constitutional rights to include "[t]he right to truthfully describe and market one's art ... protected by the First and Fourteenth Amendments," "the right to participate in the interstate market for American Indian art and crafts ... protected by the Commerce Clause," and "the right to pursue a trade without being subjected to irrational, arbitrary, and discriminatory laws ... guaranteed by the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment."
STANDARD OF REVIEW
Summary judgment is a means of testing in advance of trial whether the available evidence would permit a reasonable jury to find in favor of the party asserting a claim. The Court must grant summary judgment when "there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). "An issue is 'genuine' if there is sufficient evidence on each side so that a rational trier of fact could resolve the issue either way." Adler v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. ,
A party that moves for summary judgment has the burden of showing that the undisputed material facts require judgment as a matter of law in its favor. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett ,
• citing to "depositions, documents, electronically stored information, affidavits or declarations, stipulations ..., admissions, interrogatory answers, or other materials" in the record; or
• demonstrating "that the materials cited do not establish the absence or presence of a genuine dispute, or that an adverse party cannot produce admissible evidence to support the fact."
Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(1)(A)-(B). While the Court views the evidence and the inferences drawn from the record in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, see Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. of Pittsburg, Inc. v. PepsiCo, Inc. ,
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CHARLES B. GOODWIN, United States District Judge
Now before the Court is Plaintiff Peggy Fontenot's Motion for Summary Judgment *1081(Doc. No. 32) and Defendant Mike Hunter's Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. No. 35), filed in his official capacity as Attorney General of Oklahoma (referred to herein as "the State"). The parties have responded and replied, each seeking relief in his or her favor under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 on the constitutionality of Oklahoma's American Indian Arts and Crafts Sales Act of 1974 (codified as amended at
The State Act regulates a maker's or merchant's marketing of arts and crafts as "American Indian" in origin and prohibits the sale of improperly designated works. In 2016, the State Act was amended to exclude from its definition of "American Indian" all persons but citizens or enrolled members of a federally recognized tribe. Plaintiff-who is a member of the Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia, a tribe recognized by the State of Virginia but not by the United States-brings this action "to vindicate ... [her] constitutional rights to truthfully market her art in Oklahoma, participate in the interstate market for American Indian art and crafts, and enjoy her right to earn a living in a lawful occupation of her choice." Compl. (Doc. No. 1) ¶ 1. She has described those constitutional rights to include "[t]he right to truthfully describe and market one's art ... protected by the First and Fourteenth Amendments," "the right to participate in the interstate market for American Indian art and crafts ... protected by the Commerce Clause," and "the right to pursue a trade without being subjected to irrational, arbitrary, and discriminatory laws ... guaranteed by the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment."
STANDARD OF REVIEW
Summary judgment is a means of testing in advance of trial whether the available evidence would permit a reasonable jury to find in favor of the party asserting a claim. The Court must grant summary judgment when "there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). "An issue is 'genuine' if there is sufficient evidence on each side so that a rational trier of fact could resolve the issue either way." Adler v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. ,
A party that moves for summary judgment has the burden of showing that the undisputed material facts require judgment as a matter of law in its favor. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett ,
• citing to "depositions, documents, electronically stored information, affidavits or declarations, stipulations ..., admissions, interrogatory answers, or other materials" in the record; or
• demonstrating "that the materials cited do not establish the absence or presence of a genuine dispute, or that an adverse party cannot produce admissible evidence to support the fact."
Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(1)(A)-(B). While the Court views the evidence and the inferences drawn from the record in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, see Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. of Pittsburg, Inc. v. PepsiCo, Inc. ,
The Tenth Circuit has explained that " '[t]he filing of cross-motions for summary judgment does not necessarily concede the absence of a material issue of fact. This must be so because by the filing of a motion a party concedes that no issue of fact exists under the theory he is advancing, but he does not thereby so concede that no issues remain in the event his adversary's theory is adopted.' " Brown v. Perez ,
THE CHALLENGED STATE LAW
A. Oklahoma's American Indian Arts and Crafts Sales Act of 1974
"The purpose of the American Indian Arts and Crafts Sales Act of 1974 is to protect the public, under the police powers of the state, from false representation in the sale of authentic and imitation American Indian arts and crafts."
a person who is enrolled or who is a lineal descendant of one enrolled upon an enrollment listing of the Bureau of Indian Affairs or upon the enrollment listing of a recognized Indian tribe, band or pueblo[.]
B. The 2016 Amendments
On June 8, 2016, the State Act was duly amended. See H.B. 2261, 55th Leg., 2d Reg. Sess. (2016). The amendments, among other things, narrowed the definition of "Indian" to "American Indian" and to "mean[ ] a person who is a citizen or is an enrolled member of an American Indian tribe."
The State Act, as amended, provides that " '[a]uthentic American Indian arts and crafts' means any article of American Indian style, make, origin or design which is made wholly or in part by American Indian labor and workmanship."
The State Act makes it "unlawful to distribute, trade, sell or offer for sale or trade within th[e] [S]tate [of Oklahoma] any article represented as being made by American Indians unless the article actually is made or assembled by American Indian labor or workmanship."
who knowingly and willfully tag[ ] or label[ ] any article as being an American Indian art or craft when it does not meet the specifications of the ... Act ... shall be guilty of violating the ... Act and shall be punished by a fine of not less than Twenty-five Dollars ($ 25.00) nor more than Two Hundred Dollars ($ 200.00), or by imprisonment for not less than thirty (30) days nor more than ninety (90) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
*1085UNDISPUTED FACTS 7
Plaintiff is a United States citizen and a resident of the State of California. She has been an artist and photographer for over 30 years and travels throughout the United States, including the last 10 to 13 years to Oklahoma, to show and sell her art in American Indian art shows, festivals, and galleries. Plaintiff's specialties are handmade beaded jewelry, silver jewelry, and black and white photography.
Plaintiff has shown and sold her art in museums and galleries throughout the United States, including the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian ("Smithsonian") in Washington, D.C., and the Autry Museum of the American West in Los Angeles, California. Plaintiff has taught American Indian beadwork classes, including classes at the Smithsonian and the Southwest Museum in Los Angeles.
Plaintiff has won numerous awards. She placed first in Photography and Beadwork in 2015, 2016, and 2017 at the Eiteljorg Museum Indian Market Place in Indianapolis, Indiana, first in Photography in 2015 and third in Beadwork in 2016 at the Red Earth Pow Wow in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and second in Photography in 2016 at the Autry Museum of the American Indian Market Place in Los Angeles.
Plaintiff first identified herself as an American Indian, with respect to her work, in the 1980s. See Def.'s Mot. Ex. 4 (Dep. of Peggy Fontenot) (June 17, 2017) (Doc. No. 35-4) at p. 22, l. 7 (hereinafter, "Pl.'s Dep.").8 She first marketed her work in Oklahoma as "American Indian-made" in 2004. See
Prior to 2000, Plaintiff marketed herself "as a Cherokee artist" even though she is not a member of the Cherokee Nation and the Cherokee Nation had not certified her as a tribal artisan. Def.'s Mot. Ex. 4 (Pl.'s Dep.) (Doc. No. 35-4) at p. 7, l. 5;
In 2006, Plaintiff became a tribal member of the Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia ("Patawomeck Tribe").9 Def.'s *1086Mot. Ex. 7 (Doc. No. 35-7) at 1-3. This tribe is recognized by the Commonwealth of Virginia but not by the United States. See Pl.'s Index of Evid. Ex. 14 (H.R.J. Res. 150, 2010 Sess. (Va. 2010) ) (Doc. No. 34-14). The Patawomeck Tribe is a "Descendancy Based Tribe": "to qualify for Full Tribal Membership ... [an] [a]pplicant must show his or her descendancy from an existing Tribal member or provide ... a detailed genealogy, along with documentation showing descent from a Patawomeck Indian." Def.'s Mot. Ex. 7 (Doc. No. 35-7) at 4.
As of 2017, Plaintiff's advertising describes her artwork as "Native American." Her event signs and business cards contain contact information as well as a list that reads, in order, "Patawomeck," "Potawatomi," and "Cherokee Descent." See Pl.'s Index of Evid. Ex. 5 (Doc. No. 34-5) at 1-2.
ANALYSIS
A. Standing
The State has first argued that Plaintiff lacks standing to pursue this matter because Plaintiff cannot demonstrate the essential requirements of Article III standing. As the Supreme Court has recognized, "[s]tanding to sue is a doctrine rooted in the traditional understanding of a case or controversy.10 The doctrine ... ensure[s] that federal courts do not exceed their authority as it has been traditionally understood" by "limit[ing] the category of litigants empowered to maintain a lawsuit in federal court to seek redress for a legal wrong." Spokeo, Inc. v. Robins , --- U.S. ----,
"The plaintiff, as the party invoking federal jurisdiction, bears the burden of establishing these elements."
"Injury in fact," which is the subject of the State's challenge, is "the 'first and foremost' of standing's three elements."
*1087Spokeo ,
"To establish injury in fact, a plaintiff must show that he or she suffered 'an invasion of a legally protected interest' that is 'concrete and particularized' and 'actual or imminent, not conjectural or hypothetical.' " Id. at 1548 (quoting Lujan ,
The material facts relevant to this analysis are undisputed. Plaintiff has asserted, and the State has admitted, that notwithstanding Plaintiff's status as a member of a state recognized tribe the State Act "prohibits Plaintiff from marketing for sale her art as American Indian-made because she is not a member of a federally recognized tribe." Pl.'s Index of Evid. Ex. 16 (Def.'s Suppl. Resp. to Pl.'s Req. Admis. No. 4) (Doc. No. 34-16) at 3. The State Act, as amended, therefore precludes Plaintiff's participation in the Oklahoma market for American Indian art and disadvantages her in the national market for American Indian art. Accordingly, Plaintiff has shown that this legislation places her in immediate danger of suffering a direct injury, thereby "affect[ing]" her "in a personal and individual way." Spokeo ,
B. Due Process
Plaintiff has sought relief under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution. See U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 1.11 Plaintiff has *1088contended that-by "[r]eserving to members of federally recognized tribes the right to market and describe their art as American Indian-made," Compl. ¶ 76-the State Act "irrationally burden[s] ... [her] right to earn a living," Pl.'s Mem. (Doc. No. 33) at 12, and "protect[s] artists who are members of federally recognized tribes from economic competition," Compl. ¶ 78. Plaintiff has alleged that "no legitimate governmental interest [is] advanced by prohibiting artists who are members of state-recognized tribes, or who are lineal descendants of American Indians, from describing and marketing their art as American Indian-made." Id. ¶ 79.
The State Act is an economic regulation that impacts Plaintiff's ability "to pursue her chosen occupation as an American Indian artist." Id. ¶ 76. As such, it "does not affect a fundamental right and categorizes people on the basis of a non-suspect classification." Powers v. Harris ,
Consumer protection law is a field traditionally regulated by states. See Watters v. Wachovia Bank ,
" '[T]he federal courts do not sit as arbiters of the wisdom or utility of these laws.' "
Plaintiff, as the "one complaining of a due process violation," must "establish that the legislature has acted in an arbitrary and irrational way." KT & G Corp. v. Att'y Gen. of Okla. ,
*1089Accordingly, Plaintiff's due process claim fails.
C. Equal Protection
"[T]he essence" of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment is that the state must "treat all those similarly situated similarly." Powers ,
Because the State Act is an economic regulation that does not involve a fundamental right or suspect classification, it is again subject only to rational-basis review. See Heller v. Doe ex rel. Doe ,
Accordingly, the Court must uphold the classification at issue here "if there is any reasonably conceivable state of facts that could provide a rational basis for the classification."
The Court again concludes that a rational basis exists for the Oklahoma legislature's decision to distinguish between federal- and state-recognized tribes and to permit only citizens and enrolled members of federally recognized tribes to market and describe their work as "[a]uthentic American Indian arts and crafts."
The Supreme Court has explained that the "restraints on judicial review" reflected in the rational-basis standard "have added force 'where the legislature must necessarily engage in a process of line-drawing.' " Beach Commc'ns ,
The Oklahoma legislature "had to draw the line somewhere." Beach Commc'ns ,
D. Dormant Commerce Clause
The Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution grants Congress the "[p]ower ... [t]o regulate Commerce ... among the several States." U.S. Const. art. I, § 8, cl. 3. This "express grant ... contains a further, negative command, known as the dormant Commerce Clause, that create[s] an area of trade free from interference by the States." Am. Trucking Ass'ns, Inc. v. Mich. Pub. Serv. Comm'n ,
*1091Plaintiff has claimed that the State Act both "discriminates against and excessively burdens interstate commerce in American Indian art by favoring in-state American Indian artists at the expense of out-of-state artists." Pl.'s Mem. at 12. Plaintiff has alleged that prior to 2016 she "regularly traveled to and participated in American Indian art shows in Oklahoma, marketing and describing her art as American Indian-made" but, since the Act's amendment, she "has ceased marketing her art in Oklahoma" because "[t]he ... Act prevents out-of-state artists like [Plaintiff], who are members of state-recognized tribes, from marketing their art and crafts in Oklahoma as American Indian-made."18 Compl. ¶¶ 58, 59. Plaintiff has contended that the State Act "substantially burdens the American Indian art market for the purpose of benefitting artists who are members of Oklahoma-based federally recognized tribes" and "has the effect of discriminating against out-of-state artists in favor of in-state artists." Id. ¶¶ 60, 61. She has further alleged that the "substantial burdens on interstate commerce for Indian art ... are not justified by any legitimate local interests or benefits" and that the State Act's "underlying purpose and effect" is to "protect[ ] in-state artists from competing with out-of-state artists." Id. ¶¶ 62, 63.
A state law may be discriminatory: "on its face," United Haulers Ass'n, Inc. v. Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Mgmt. Auth. ,
Plaintiff has not shown that the State Act discriminates between in-state artists and out-of-state artists, either on its face or in its direct effects. The State Act prohibits artists who are not members of federally recognized tribes from marketing their art and crafts in Oklahoma as American Indian-made. That prohibition applies to both in-state and out-of-state artists.
*1092Nor has Plaintiff shown that the State Act "benefits local [American Indian artists] and burdens out-of-state [American Indian artists]." Direct Mktg. Ass'n ,
Plaintiff has claimed that the State Act's "substantial burdens on interstate commerce for Indian art ... are not justified by any legitimate local interests or benefits." Compl. ¶ 62. In deciding whether any such burdens are clearly excessive in relation to the putative local benefits, the Court must apply the four-factor balancing test articulated by the Supreme Court in Pike , which requires the Court to consider
(1) the nature of the putative local benefits advanced by the [statute]; (2) the burden the [statute] imposes on interstate commerce; (3) whether the burden is "clearly excessive in relation to" the local benefits; and (4) whether the local interests can be promoted as well with a lesser impact on interstate commerce.
Blue Circle Cement, Inc. v. Bd. of Cty. Comm'rs of Cty. of Rogers ,
The Court finds that, in this regard, Plaintiff has failed to make the showing necessary to survive Defendant's motion for summary judgment. Plaintiff has presented no evidentiary material under Rule 56(c) that raises a genuine issue of material fact as to whether the State Act burdens interstate commerce. The State Act does not prohibit an artist from offering his or her art and crafts for sale in Oklahoma; it restricts the manner of how these goods are marketed. As noted, this restriction applies to in-state and out-of-artists equally: those artists who are members of federally recognized tribes-whether they be in-state or out-of-state-may market and sell their art and crafts in Oklahoma as American Indian-made, and those artists who are members of only state-recognized tribes-again, whether they be in-state or out-of-state-may not market or sell their art and crafts in Oklahoma as American Indian-made. And Plaintiff has presented no evidentiary material under Rule 56(c) that raises a genuine issue of material fact that any such burden would be clearly excessive in relation to the local benefit of protecting the public from improperly identified goods.20 See
E. First Amendment
Plaintiff has alleged in her complaint that the State Act violates the First Amendment to the United States Constitution by impermissibly restricting "the content of her speech-i.e., whether or not she states she is an 'American Indian,' and whether or not she represents that her art is American Indian-made." Compl. ¶ 49. Plaintiff also has alleged that the State Act impermissibly infringes her speech because of her identity. See
The First Amendment prohibits laws that "abridg[e] the freedom of speech." U.S. Const. amend. I. The expression regulated by the State Act is that of an artist or distributor "propos[ing] a commercial transaction." Va. State Bd. of Pharmacy v. Va. Citizens Consumer Council, Inc. ,
In Central Hudson , the Supreme Court "established a three-part test governing First Amendment challenges to regulations restricting non-misleading commercial speech that relates to lawful activity." Mainstream Mktg. Servs., Inc. v. FTC ,
First, the government must assert a substantial interest to be achieved by the regulation. Second, the regulation must directly advance that governmental interest, meaning that it must do more than provide "only ineffective or remote support for the government's purpose." Third, although the regulation need not be the least restrictive measure available, it must be narrowly tailored not to restrict more speech than necessary. Together, these final two factors require that there be a reasonable fit between the government's objectives and the means it chooses to accomplish those ends.
The State has shown that it had a substantial interest in "protect[ing] the public ... from false representation in the sale of authentic and imitation American Indian arts and crafts."
The State Act's restriction of commercial speech regarding the designation of arts and crafts as "American Indian" in origin is, for First Amendment purposes, "a proportional response."
F. Supremacy Clause / Federal Preemption
Finally, Plaintiff has asserted that enforcement of the State Act "unconstitutionally frustrates the purpose" of the Indian Acts and Crafts Act of 1990 ("IACA"),
In 1990, Congress passed the IACA "to protect Indian artists from unfair competition from counterfeits."21 Def.'s Mot. Ex. 2 (H. Comm. on Int. & Insular Affairs Rep. on H.R. 2006, H.R. Rep. No. 101-400(I) at 3 (Feb. 6, 1990) ) (Doc. No. 35-2, at 1) [hereinafter " H.R. Rep. No. 101-400(I)"]. The Indian Arts and Crafts Board,22 tasked with implementing the IACA, was charged with "the duty ... to promote the economic welfare of the Indian tribes and Indian individuals through the development of Indian arts and crafts and the expansion of the market for the products of Indian art and craftsmanship." 25 U.S.C. § 305a.
The IACA penalizes any "person who, directly or indirectly, offers or displays for sale or sells a good ... in a manner that falsely suggests it is Indian produced, an Indian product, or the product of a particular Indian or Indian tribe or Indian arts and crafts organization."
The IACA defines the term "Indian" as "an individual that ... is a member of an *1095Indian tribe" or "is certified as an Indian artisan by an Indian tribe."
Indian group that has been formally recognized as an Indian tribe by-
(i) a State legislature;
(ii) a State commission; or
(iii) another similar organization vested with State legislative tribal recognition authority.23
"[F]ederal law may preempt or supersede state law either impliedly or by express intention." Schneberger v. Air Evac EMS, Inc. ,
1. Field Preemption
"States are precluded from regulating conduct in a field that Congress, acting within its proper authority, has determined must be regulated by its exclusive governance." Arizona v. United States ,
Plaintiff has not shown that the IACA "reflects a congressional decision to foreclose any state regulation" in connection with the marketing and sale of American Indian arts and crafts. Arizona ,
H.R. 2006, as reported by the House Interior Committee, would have preempted States from enacting and enforcing their own laws with respect to imitation Indian arts and crafts. At the time, it was felt that a uniform, national standard was the best approach. Upon further reflection, ... it became apparent that many States are ahead of the Congress with regard to enacting legislation designed to protect genuine Indian arts and crafts. Accordingly, the section in the bill that would have preempted State legislative actions in this field has been deleted. I am pleased that many State legislatures ... have felt it important to help protect local Indian commerce from fraudulent competition coming from foreign and domestic sources. I am optimistic that the provisions of H.R. 2006, along with complementary State legislative initiatives, will go a long way toward providing the proper level of economic protection to the ... handiwork of our American Indian artisans.
Def.'s Mot. Ex. 6 (Hearings on H.R. 2006, 101st Cong., 2d Sess. (1990) ) (statement of Rep. Rhodes) (Doc. No. 35-6) at 6-7. Accordingly, the Court finds that Congress did not intend to occupy the field of consumer protection in the marketing and sale of American Indian-made arts and crafts.
2. Conflict Preemption
The second variant of implied preemption-"conflict" or "direct" preemption-occurs when a state law conflicts with a federal law. See Hillsborough Cty. ,
Plaintiff has argued that the State Act "undermines" the IACA's "purpose ... to protect a broad array of American Indians from fraudulent misrepresentations in the national American Indian art market"-"not just those who are members of federal recognized tribes." Pl.'s Mem. at 21, 23. Plaintiff has alleged that enforcement of the State Act interferes with enforcement of the IACA, as shown by the following:
• "The [IACA's] purpose is to develop a robust market for American Indian art and crafts. It broadly defines American Indians as three categories of artists: members of a federally recognized tribe; artisans certified by an American Indian tribe; and members of state-recognized tribes." Compl. ¶ 70.
• "Oklahoma's ... Act frustrates that purpose by limiting the definition of American Indians to only one of those three categories of artists: members of federally recognized tribes." Id. ¶ 71.
• "As a member of a state-recognized tribe, but not of a federally recognized tribe, [Plaintiff] may not fully participate in the American Indian art and crafts market contemplated under the [IACA] because she cannot call herself an American Indian when marketing and describing her art in Oklahoma." Id. ¶ 72.
• Plaintiff therefore "cannot practically carry on her business in Oklahoma even though she complies with the [IACA]. [She] will continue to be prohibited from conducting her business in Oklahoma due to Oklahoma's conflicting law, resulting in substantial and irreparable harm unless the [State] Act is declared unlawful and enjoined by this Court." Id. ¶ 73.
The Court agrees.
As its statutory language and legislative history reflect, the IACA's drafters "struggled with" with the "difficult issue" of defining the term "Indian." Def.'s Mot. Ex. 6 (Hrg. H.R. 2006, 101st Cong., 2d Sess.) (statement of Rep. Kyl) (Doc. No. 35-6) at 8. The definitions of the words "Indian tribe" and "Indian" in the initial version of the IACA were "relatively narrow" and included only federally recognized tribes and their members. Pl.'s Index of Evid. Ex. 10 (To Expand the Powers of the Indian Arts and Crafts Board: Hearing on H.R. 2006 Before the H. Comm. on Int. & Insular Affairs, 101st Cong., 1st Sess. 1, 67 (1989) (statement of Rep. Kyl) (Doc. No. 34-10) at 18 (hereinafter, "Hrg. H.R. 2006, 101st Cong., 1st Sess."); id. (Hrg. H.R. 2006, 101st Cong., 1st Sess. at 11) (Doc. No. 34-10) at 7.27 The drafters noted, however, *1098their belief that these definitions would "have to be broadened," id. (Hrg. H.R. 2006, 101st Cong., 1st Sess. at 67) (statement of Rep. Kyl) (Doc. No. 34-10) at 18, and that "how [they] ... define[d] the term[s] can and will affect the livelihoods of many artisans," Def.'s Mot. Ex. 6 (Hrg. H.R. 2006, 101st Cong., 2d Sess.) (statement of Rep. Kyl) (Doc. No. 35-6) at 8. To this end, the final version of the IACA states that, insofar as the Act's regulation of the marketing and sale of Indian goods, the Act's protection extends to works created by "a member of a federally recognized tribe," a member of "a tribe recognized by a State legislature or by a State commission or similar organization legislatively vested with State trial recognition authority," or persons whom "tribes ... certify ... as Indian artisans." Id. ;28 accord 25 U.S.C. § 305e(a)(1), 305e(a)(3)(B).
The Court finds that by excluding from the State Act's definition of "American Indian" members (or certified artisans) of tribes that are recognized by a state but not the federal government, the State Act constitutes "an obstacle to the accomplishment and execution of the full purposes and objectives of" the IACA. Davidowitz ,
The State Act, by interjecting a narrower definition for "American Indian" than is set forth in the IACA, prohibits in Oklahoma certain conduct-specifically the marketing and sale of works by some artists-that otherwise is protected by the IACA. In doing so, the State Act diminishes "the market for the products of Indian art and craftsmanship," 25 U.S.C. § 305a, that the IACA states it was designed to promote and develop. Thus, the fault in the State Act is not that the definitions it draws are unreasonable, and not that those definitions are unconstitutional in and of themselves-defining who should and should not be recognized as a member of a tribe is a difficult matter even for *1099tribal governments-but that the definitions used place the State Act in conflict with Congress's intentional adoption of federal legislation to give protection to, and promote a market for the works of, a broader range of tribal artists. Because Oklahoma's American Indian Arts and Crafts Sales Act, as amended, " 'stands as an obstacle to the accomplishment and execution of the full purposes and [congressional] objectives' " of the IACA, Crosby ,
CONCLUSION
Although the Court rejects Plaintiff's challenges under the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment, as well as those under the dormant Commerce Clause and the First Amendment, the Court finds for the foregoing reasons that Plaintiff has shown that Oklahoma's American Indian Arts and Crafts Sales Act of 1974, as amended,
Accordingly, the Court
(1) GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. No. 32);
(2) GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART the State's Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. No. 35); and
(3) DIRECTS the parties to confer and submit within 21 days a proposed judgment for the Court's approval and signature that summarizes the Court's findings and conclusions and grants Plaintiff the equitable declaratory and injunctive relief she has requested in her complaint.
IT IS SO ORDERED this 28th day of March, 2019.
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