Washington Redskins to Keep Name

Earlier this week the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear Suzan Harjo v. Pro-Football, Inc., the case that could have forced the Redskins to change their name.  Back in September, Harjo petitioned the court to hear the case as the latest move in a 17 year battle by a group of Native Americans to force the football team from Washington to change its name.  Harjo and her fellow plaintiffs contend that the name "Redskins" is racially disparaging and after the U.S. Court of Appeals upheld a U.S. District Court's ruling that the plaintiffs had waited too long to bring suit, Harjo appealed to the Supreme Court.  The Surpeme Court declined to hear the case without comment.

One of the more interesting elements of the Harjo case is that the federal courts have not commented on the name "Redskins", but have instead halted Harjo on the grounds that the plaintiffs waited too long to file suit.  The youngest plaintiff in Harjo, born only a year after the Redskins trademark was processed, waited nearly eight years after turning 18 to join the suit.  While this is a victory for the Redskins, there is a similar case pending in the court system that has been stalled until this one was decided.

Redskins Prepare for Legal Battle

Since 1992, a group of Native Americans has been fighting to get the Washington Redskins logo and trademarks declared offensive and invalid. Monday might have been the beginning of the end of this long process.

Yesterday, the group's legal team formerly asked the Supreme Court to take a look at the case, which has meandered through the legal system for nearly 20 years. An attorney for the group of Native Americans confirmed that they asked the Supreme Court to review the case to see if it defames Native Americans. Before Redskins' officials begin packing their bags for the short trip to the Supreme Court, the court must grant certiorari. There is no timetable for a decision from the Supreme Court.

Founded in 1932 as the Boston Braves, the team changed its name in 1933 to the Boston Redskins. In 1937, the Redskins moved to Washington because of poor fan support in Boston.