October Term 2015 · Docket 13-1496
Can tribal courts force non-Indians to litigate tort claims?
Dollar General seeks to stop tribal courts from hearing its tort case. The tribe insists its courts hold that power.
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
Dollar General argues tribal courts cannot force non-Indians to litigate.
The tribe argues its courts hold inherent sovereign power.
Justice Sotomayor questioned the assumption that tribal judges lack neutrality.
Justice Ginsburg asked how the argument fits with prior precedent.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 6-22 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 6-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 42-16 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 42-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 4-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 4-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 44-48 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 44-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 22-18 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 22-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 42-4 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 42-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 32-38 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 32-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 40-40 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 40-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 42-44 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 42-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 44-8 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 44-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 34-40 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 34-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 32-44 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 32-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 42-1 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 42-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 30-46 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 30-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 10-12 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 10-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 14-18 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 14-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 44-46 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 44-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 28-34 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 28-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 14-18 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 14-18
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Dollar General wants a federal court to dismiss the tribal case. The tribe wants its court to keep the case. The dispute centers on tribal sovereign authority over non-members.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 42-16 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 42-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 22-18 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 22-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 40-40 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 40-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 34-40 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 34-40
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 7, 2015.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 12-14
What each side wants
Dollar General wants the case moved to federal court.
The tribe wants its court to keep the case.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 42-16 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 42-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 22-18 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 22-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 40-40 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 40-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 34-40 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 34-40
What each side says
Dollar General argues tribal courts lack jurisdiction over non-Indians.
The tribe argues its courts hold mandatory jurisdiction over such claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 42-16 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 42-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 22-18 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 22-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 40-40 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 40-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 34-40 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 34-40
What the justices asked
Justice Kennedy questioned the assumption that tribal judges lack neutrality.
Justice Ginsburg asked how the argument reconciles with prior precedent.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 6-22 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 6-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 4-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 4-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 44-48 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 44-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 42-4 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 42-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 32-38 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 32-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 42-44 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 42-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 44-8 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 44-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 32-44 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 32-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 42-1 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 42-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 30-46 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 30-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 10-12 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 10-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 14-18 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 14-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 44-46 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 44-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 28-34 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 28-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 14-18 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 14-18
Why it matters
This case defines the reach of tribal judicial power. It determines whether non-Indians face tribal courts for torts. The outcome shapes the balance of federal and tribal authority.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 42-16 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 42-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 22-18 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 22-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 40-40 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 40-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 34-40 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 34-40
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 6-22 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 6-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 4-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 4-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 44-48 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 44-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 42-4 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 42-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 32-38 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 32-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 42-44 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 42-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 44-8 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 44-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 32-44 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 32-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 42-1 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 42-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 30-46 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 30-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 10-12 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 10-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 14-18 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 14-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 44-46 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 44-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 28-34 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 28-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 14-18 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 14-18
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 28, lines 42-16 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 42-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 22-18 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 22-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 40-40 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 40-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 34-40 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 34-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 42-16 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 42-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 22-18 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 22-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 40-40 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 40-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 34-40 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 34-40
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.