A U.S. judge has rejected the Department of Justice's attempt to block Idaho from enforcing laws that allow ranchers to take control of water rights held by the federal government on public lands used for livestock grazing. Chief District Judge David Nye ruled that Idaho's laws treat the federal government the same as any other water rights owner. The decision comes amid ongoing legal disputes surrounding water rights on federal lands. The U.S. District Court for Idaho also partially struck down a series of state statutes regulating these water rights.