October Term 2013 · Docket 12-515
Can a state sue a tribe for off-reservation gaming?
Michigan seeks to sue Bay Mills for operating a casino off its reservation. The tribe claims sovereign immunity blocks the suit.
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
Michigan argues the tribe waived immunity through commercial conduct.
The tribe argues Congress did not authorize state suits.
Justice Sotomayor asked why Michigan did not file its own injunction.
Justice Kagan asked if the arbitration agreement waived immunity.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 33-49 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 33-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 51-17
- 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 37-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 5-17 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 5-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 15-35 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 15-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 29-1 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 29-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 31-1 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 31-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 29-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-3
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Michigan argues the tribe waived immunity by operating off-reservation. The tribe argues Congress did not authorize such suits.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 33-49 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 33-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 5-17 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 5-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 19-49
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 2, 2013.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 19-25
What each side wants
Michigan wants to sue the tribe for off-reservation gaming.
The tribe wants to dismiss the state lawsuit.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 33-49 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 33-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 5-17 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 5-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 19-49
What each side says
Michigan argues the tribe waived immunity through commercial conduct.
The tribe argues Congress did not authorize state suits.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 33-49 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 33-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 5-17 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 5-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 19-49
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked why Michigan did not file its own injunction.
Justice Kagan asked if the arbitration agreement waived immunity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 51-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 15-35 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 15-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 29-1 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 29-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 31-1 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 31-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 29-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-3
Why it matters
This case defines state power over tribal commercial activity. It determines whether states can regulate off-reservation gaming.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 33-49 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 33-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 5-17 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 5-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 19-49
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 51-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 51-17
- 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 37-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 15-35 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 15-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 29-1 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 29-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 31-1 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 31-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 29-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-3
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 29, lines 33-49 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 33-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 5-17 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 5-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 33-49 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 33-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 5-17 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 5-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 19-49
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.