October Term 2004 · Docket 03-855
Does aboriginal title survive without a federal reservation act?
The Oneida Nation claims tax exemption on purchased land. The City argues the title extinguished long ago.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Mr. Sacks argued the title extinguished before the purchase.
Ms. Halligan argued the 1838 treaty disestablished the reservation.
Mr. Stewart argued the passage of time does not bar the claim.
Mr. Smith argued the Oneidas did not change their position.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 37-15 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 37-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 7-54 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 7-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 1-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 1-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 5-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-27
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The Oneida Nation bought land in New York. They claim aboriginal title remains. The City says the title vanished. The Court must decide if the title survives.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 37-15 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 37-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 11-29
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 11, 2005.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 31-39
What each side wants
The Oneida Nation wants a tax exemption on the purchased land.
The City wants the tax exemption denied.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 37-15 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 37-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 11-29
What each side says
The Oneida Nation argues aboriginal title never extinguished.
The City argues the title vanished before the purchase.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 37-15 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 37-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 11-29
What the justices asked
Justice Breyer asked if title disappears over time.
Justice Kennedy asked if aboriginal title creates Indian country.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 7-54 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 7-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 1-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 1-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 5-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-27
Why it matters
This case defines tribal tax immunity on purchased land. It clarifies the scope of aboriginal title. It impacts local tax revenues and tribal sovereignty.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 37-15 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 37-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 11-29
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 7-54 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 7-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 1-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 1-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 5-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-27
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 37-15 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 37-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 37-15 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 37-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 11-29
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.