SAN CARLOS APACHE TRIBE v. SUPERIOR COURT

No. CV-95-0161-SA.

972 P.2d 179 (1999)

193 Ariz. 195

The SAN CARLOS APACHE TRIBE, the Tonto Apache Tribe and the Yavapai Apache Tribe, all Federally recognized Indian Tribes, Petitioners. v. The SUPERIOR COURT of Arizona, In and For the COUNTY OF MARICOPA, and Honorable Susan R. Bolton, a judge thereof; The Superior Court of Arizona, in and for the County of Apache, and the Honorable Allen G. Minker, a judge thereof; The Honorable John E. Thorson, Special Master, Arizona General Stream Adjudications; State of Arizona, Rita Pearson, Director, Arizona Department of Water Resources; Grant J. Woods, Arizona Attorney General; Arizona State Land Department, Salt River Valley Water Users Association; Phelps Dodge Corporation; Roosevelt Water Conservation District and all other claimants to water rights in the Gila River System and Source and the Little Colorado River System and Source as real parties in interest, Respondents.

Supreme Court of Arizona, En Banc.

January 7, 1999.


Attorney(s) appearing for the Case

Sparks, Tehan & Ryley, P.C. Scottsdale By: Joe P. Sparks Kevin T. Tehan John H. Ryley Attorneys for Petitioners San Carlos Apache Tribe, Tonto Apache Tribe, and Yavapai Apache Tribe.

Patricia Madueno, Chairperson, Needles, California, Fort Mojave Indian Tribe, Joinder Petitioner, Delbert Havatone, Chairman, Peach Springs, Hualapai Indian Tribe and Daniel H. Israel, Carefree, Attorney for Joinder Petitioner Hualapai Indian Tribe.

David P. Frank, Assistant Attorney General, Tohono O'odham Nation, Sells, Joinder Petitioner, Robert C. Brauchli, General Counsel, Whiteriver and William H. Veeder, Washington, D.C., Attorneys for Special Appearance Petitioner White Mountain Apache Tribe.

Grant Woods, Arizona Attorney General By: Joseph E. Clifford, Charlotte Benson, Phoenix, Attorneys for Respondents Grant J. Woods and State of Arizona.

Arizona Department of Water Resources By: Michael J. Pearce, Kenneth C. Slowinski, Phoenix, Attorneys for Respondents Rita Pearson Arizona Department of Water Resources, and Arizona State Land Department.

Gust Rosenfeld, P.L.C. By: Jerry L. Haggard, Kevin M. Moran and Phelps Dodge Corporation, By: Cynthia M. Chandley, Phoenix, Attorneys for Respondent Phelps Dodge Corporation.

Burton M. Apker Phoenix Attorneys for Non-Party Respondent ASARCO Incorporated.

Ryley Carlock & Applewhite, P.A. By: George Read Carlock, Michael J. Brophy, Barry R. Sanders, Phoenix, Attorneys for Respondent Roosevelt Water Conservation District and Non-Party Respondent Aztec Land & Cattle Co.

Arizona Public Service Company By L. William Staudenmaier, Shiela B. Schmidt, Phoenix, Attorneys for Non-Party Respondent Arizona Public Service Company.

Cox and Cox By: Alfred S. Cox, Alan J. Cox, Scottsdale, Attorneys for Non-Party Respondents Gila River Indian Community and Silas Kisto.

Brown & Brown By: David Albert Brown, Michael John Brown, Pinetop, Attorneys for Non-Party Respondents Silver Creek Irrigation District and Arizona Cattle Growers Association.

Salmon Lewis & Weldon, P.L.C. By: Riney B. Salmon, II, M. Byron Lewis, John B. Weldon, Stephen E. Crofton, Lisa M. McKnight, Phoenix, Attorneys for Respondents Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District, and Salt River Valley Water Users' Association, and Non-Party Respondents City of Tempe, San Carlos Irrigation and Drainage District, and Maricopa County Municipal Water Conservation District No. 1

Snell & Wilmer By: Robert B. Hoffman, Carlos D. Ronstadt, Jeffrey W. Crockett, Phoenix, Attorneys for Non-Party Respondent BHP Copper Inc. (formerly Magma Copper Co.)

United States Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division By: Robert L. Klarquist, F. Patrick Barry, Bradley S. Bridgewater, Washington, D.C., Attorneys for Non-Party Respondent Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division.

City of Phoenix By: Roderick G. McDougall, M. James Callahan, Phoenix, Attorneys for Non-Party Respondent City of Phoenix.

Ulrich Kessler & Anger, P.C. By: William H. Anger, Paul G. Ulrich, Phoenix, Attorneys for Non-Party Respondents Cities of Chandler Glendale, Mesa, and Scottsdale.

Navajo Nation By: Stanley M. Pollack, Window Rock and Greene, Meyer & McElroy, P.C. By: Scott McElroy, Alice E. Walker, Boulder, Attorneys for Non-Party Respondent Navajo Nation.

Hopi Indian Tribe Kykotsmovi By: A. Scott Canty—and—Sonosky Chambers Sachse & Endreson Washington, D.C. By: Harry R. Sachse Reid P. Chambers Attorneys for Non-Party Respondent Hopi Indian Tribe.

Barrow & Barrow Flagstaff By: Irene F. Barrow—and—Whiteing & Thompson Boulder, By: Jeanne S. Whiteing Colorado Attorneys for Non-Party Respondent San Juan Paiute Tribe.

Williams & Janov, P.C. Albuquerque, By: Susan M. Williams New Mexico Attorneys for Non-Party Respondent Pueblo of Zuni.

Fennemore Craig Phoenix By: James W. Johnson Lauren J. Caster Attorneys for Non-Party Respondents Cyprus Climax Metals Co., Cyprus Christmas Mine Corp., Cyprus Miami Mining Corp., Cyprus Pima Mining Corp., Cyprus Sierrita Corp., and Cyprus Twin Buttes Corp.

Broening Oberg Woods Wilson & Cass Phoenix By: Marilyn D. Cage Attorneys for Non-Party Respondent City of Goodyear.

Meyer Hendricks Bivens & Moyes, P.L.C. Phoenix By: Lee H. Storey Attorneys for Non-Party Respondents City of Safford City of Flagstaff, Rio Rico Properties, Inc., and Rio Rico Utilities, Inc.

DeConcini McDonald Yetwin & Lacy, P.C. Tucson By: Jennele M. O'Hair Attorneys for Various Individual Non-Party Respondents.

Martinez & Curtis, P.C. Phoenix By: William P. Sullivan Attorneys for Non-Party Respondents Bella Vista Water Co., Cortaro Water Users Association, Cortaro-Marana Irrigation District, and Town of Gilbert.

Platt Hall & Lee, P.C. St. Johns By: Mitchel D. Platt Attorneys for Non-Party Respondents City of.St. Johns, City of Holbrook, Seven Springs Ranches, Earl Platt Ranches, and Leverton Investments.


OPINION

FELDMAN, Justice.

¶ 1 We previously accepted jurisdiction of this special action challenging the constitutionality of two legislative measures that revise many portions of Arizona's surface water law. On remand, the trial judge held most of the statutory changes unconstitutional because they applied retroactively to affect vested property rights, thus violating the due process clause of article II, section 4 of the Arizona Constitution, or because...

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