October Term 2017 · Docket 17-387
Does sovereign immunity bar state suits against tribes for off-reservation land?
The dispute centers on whether tribal sovereign immunity prevents states from suing tribes to resolve property ownership conflicts.
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
The tribe's counsel argued sovereign immunity bars suits against tribal governments.
The opposing counsel argued sovereignty includes adjudicating property ownership disputes.
questions_asked_by_justices
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 53-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 53-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 51-9
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case involves a property ownership dispute. The tribe claims sovereign immunity bars the lawsuit. The opposing side argues the tribe must face the suit.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-43
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 21, 2018.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
What each side wants
The tribe wants the Court to dismiss the lawsuit based on sovereign immunity.
The opposing side wants the Court to allow the lawsuit to proceed.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-43
What each side says
The tribe argues sovereign immunity bars suits against tribal governments.
The opposing side argues sovereignty includes adjudicating property ownership disputes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-43
What the justices asked
Justice Kennedy asked if sovereign immunity applies to off-reservation property condemnation.
Justice Breyer asked how immunity affects property disputes between tribes and others.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 53-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 53-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 51-9
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of tribal sovereign immunity in property disputes. It determines whether tribes can be sued for off-reservation land claims. The outcome shapes the legal landscape for tribal land ownership.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-43
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 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 53-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 53-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 51-9
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 23, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-43
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.