Neil Gorsuch

The court found that the federal government isn't responsible for securing that water for the 170,000 tribal members who live there.

States that draw water from the river — Arizona, Nevada and Colorado — and water districts in California had urged the court to decide for them, and that's what the justices did in a 5-4 ruling.

Native American nations say the Supreme Court has reaffirmed their power to withstand threats from states.

The court left in place the 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act, which was enacted to address concerns that Native children were being separated from their families and, too frequently, placed in non-Native homes.

The Supreme Court appears likely to leave in place most of a federal law that gives preference to Native American families in foster care and adoption proceedings of Native children.

Justice Anthony Kennedy’s retirement from the U.S. Supreme Court means President Trump will soon make his second selection to the nation’s highest court —…