October Term 2007 · Docket 07-411
Can a tribe tax a nonmember bank on reservation land?
The dispute centers on whether tribal courts hold jurisdiction over a nonmember bank for tax collection.
Verified source milestones
- — 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. Banker argued tribes lack inherent sovereign power over nonmembers.
Mr. Gannon argued tribes retain legitimate civil authority over nonmember land.
Chief Justice Roberts questioned the practical enforcement of tribal taxes.
Justice Ginsburg compared tax collection to a gas station scenario.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 45-23 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 45-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 7-31 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 7-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-43
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Plains Commerce Bank seeks to avoid tribal court jurisdiction. The Long Family Land and Cattle Company wants the tribe to collect taxes from the bank.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 45-23 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 45-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 7-31 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 7-31
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 14, 2008.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
What each side wants
The bank wants the tribe to lose jurisdiction over it.
The tribe wants to collect taxes from the bank.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 45-23 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 45-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 7-31 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 7-31
What each side says
The bank argues tribes lack inherent power over nonmembers.
The tribe argues political branches have not removed civil jurisdiction.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 45-23 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 45-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 7-31 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 7-31
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked if tribal court jurisdiction exists in a hypothetical case.
Justice Souter asked if regulatory authority exceeds adjudicatory authority.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-43
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of tribal authority over nonmember businesses. It determines whether tribes can enforce tax laws against outside entities. The outcome shapes the balance of power between tribal and state governments.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 45-23 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 45-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 7-31 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 7-31
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 49-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-43
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 25, lines 45-23 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 45-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 7-31 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 7-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 45-23 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 45-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 7-31 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 7-31
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.