A federal judge in Arizona on Monday dismissed a legal challenge attempting to strike down a national monument created in the state by former President Joe Biden.
Senior District Judge Stephen McNamee, with the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, said the Arizona state Legislature and several other plaintiffs that sued to block the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni National Monument lacked standing.
The ruling covers two combined lawsuits opposing the national monument from the Arizona state Legislature; the Arizona state treasurer; Mohave County; the towns of Colorado City and Fredonia; and Chris Heaton, a rancher whose Y-Cross Ranch holds grazing permits within the monument’s boundaries.
Designated in 2023, the monument includes nearly 1 million acres of land in three separate parcels bordering Grand Canyon National Park, the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument and other public lands in northern Arizona.