Lawyers for the state and mining groups faced off in the Supreme Court of California earlier this month in the People v. Rinehart case over the rights of miners to use suction dredges under the Mining Law of 1872.

Oral arguments were heard Wednesday, June 1 in Los Angeles in the landmark case over suction dredging mining involving Brandon Rinehart, a gold miner.

State Attorney Marc Melnick argued that the state has the right to reasonably regulate miners while Rinehart’s lawyer James Buchal argued that the federal Mining Law of 1872 preempts state law under the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution.

Here are five separate YouTube links to the audiocast of the People v. Rinehart case that was heard in the Supreme Court of California Wednesday, June 1  You will hear both Melnick and Buchal present their arguments as answering questions from the panel of seven California Supreme Court judges:

Here is a background article on the Brandon Rinehart case which was heard June 1 in Los Angeles. A decision from the California Supreme Court is expected within 90 days:

Miners rally in support of Rinehart