October Term 2008 · Docket 07-1410
Does federal trust law waive sovereign immunity for tribal lease disputes?
The Navajo Nation seeks money damages for lease management errors. The United States argues federal law blocks such claims.
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
General Kneedler argued sovereign immunity blocks money damages claims.
Mr. Phillips argued the Rehabilitation Act requires lease approval.
chief_justice_roberts_questioned_if_trust_principles_set_a_binding_standard
justice_kennedy_asked_if_federal_law_recognizes_enforceable_fiduciary_duties
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 3-47 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 3-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 13-3 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 13-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-51 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-51
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether federal trust duties allow tribes to sue for money. The government says sovereign immunity blocks these suits. The tribe says trust principles create enforceable legal duties.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 39-25
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 23, 2009.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 47-49
What each side wants
The United States wants the Court to dismiss the money damages claim.
The Navajo Nation wants the Court to allow the money damages claim.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 39-25
What each side says
The United States argues sovereign immunity blocks money damages claims.
The Navajo Nation argues trust principles create enforceable legal duties.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 39-25
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked if trust principles set a binding standard.
Justice Kennedy asked if federal law recognizes enforceable fiduciary duties.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 3-47 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 3-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 13-3 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 13-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-51 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-51
Why it matters
This dispute defines the scope of federal accountability to tribes. It determines whether tribes can recover money for government errors. The outcome shapes future tribal-government financial relationships.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 39-25
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 10, lines 3-47 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 3-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 13-3 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 13-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-51 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-51
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 19, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 39-25
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.