October Term 2008 · Docket 07-526
Does the Indian Reorganization Act allow the federal government to take land into trust for tribes not under federal jurisdiction in 1934?
the sides that brought the case argue the statute excludes tribes not under federal jurisdiction in 1934. The government argues the text allows trust land for any tribe.
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
Theodore Olson argued Congress unambiguously answered the question in the 1934 Act.
Olson stated the Narragansetts lacked a federal relationship at the time of enactment.
The government advocate argued the text supports the Secretary's action for three reasons.
The advocate cited section 5 authorizing trust land for any Indian tribe.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 29-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 5-17 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 5-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 47-17 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 47-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 29-13 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 29-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-47
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the scope of the Indian Reorganization Act. the sides that brought the case claim the law restricts trust land to tribes under federal jurisdiction in 1934. The government claims the law authorizes trust land for any tribe. The dispute centers on the phrase now under the jurisdiction of the United States.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 47-17 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 47-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 29-13 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 29-13
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 3, 2008.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 15-17
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to reverse the lower court's affirmation of the Secretary's action.
The government wants the Court to affirm the lower court's rejection of the sides that brought the case' claim.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 47-17 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 47-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 29-13 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 29-13
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the statute unambiguously limits trust land to tribes under federal jurisdiction in 1934.
The government argues the statute authorizes the Secretary to take land into trust for any Indian tribe.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 47-17 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 47-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 29-13 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 29-13
What the justices asked
Justice Kennedy asked what sort of tribes were not under federal jurisdiction.
Justice Ginsburg noted the effort was ridden with mistakes according to the record.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 29-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 5-17 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 5-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-47
Why it matters
The outcome determines whether the federal government can take land into trust for tribes not under federal jurisdiction in 1934. This affects the scope of federal authority over tribal lands. It defines the legal status of tribes seeking federal recognition and land trust status.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 47-17 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 47-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 29-13 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 29-13
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 11, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 29-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 5-17 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 5-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-47
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 24, lines 47-17 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 47-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 29-13 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 29-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 47-17 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 47-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 29-13 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 29-13
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.