October Term 2018 · Docket 16-1498
Does the Yakama treaty block Washington state fuel taxes on tribal members?
Cougar Den argues the treaty bars state fuel taxes. Washington claims the tax applies to all buyers.
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
Washington's lawyer stated the tax applies to fuel, not travel.
Cougar Den's lawyer claimed the treaty secures the right to travel.
Justice Sotomayor questioned whether states can tax out-of-state fuel purchases.
Justice Kagan asked advocates to assume the treaty preempts general taxes.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 28-15 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 28-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 24-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-26 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 30-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 6-10 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 6-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 30-8 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 30-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 24-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 24-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-30 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 25-28 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 25-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 9-24 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 9-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 20-32 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 20-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 6-9 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 6-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 28-31 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 28-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 30-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 10-11 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 10-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-16 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 5-9
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests if a 1855 treaty blocks state fuel taxes on tribal members.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 28-15 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 28-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 9-24 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 9-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 20-32 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 20-32
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 30, 2018.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 28-31 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 28-31
What each side wants
Washington wants to collect fuel taxes from tribal members.
Cougar Den wants to avoid state fuel taxes under the treaty.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 28-15 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 28-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 9-24 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 9-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 20-32 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 20-32
What each side says
Washington argues the tax targets fuel, not travel.
Cougar Den argues the treaty protects the right to travel.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 28-15 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 28-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 9-24 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 9-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 20-32 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 20-32
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if states can tax fuel bought out of state.
Justice Kagan asked if the treaty preempts general taxes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 24-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-26 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 30-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 6-10 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 6-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 30-8 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 30-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 24-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 24-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-30 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 25-28 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 25-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 6-9 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 6-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 28-31 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 28-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 30-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 10-11 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 10-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-16 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 5-9
Why it matters
This dispute defines the boundary between state tax power and tribal sovereignty.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 28-15 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 28-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 9-24 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 9-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 20-32 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 20-32
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 35-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 24-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-26 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 30-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 6-10 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 6-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 30-8 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 30-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 24-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 24-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-30 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 25-28 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 25-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 6-9 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 6-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 28-31 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 28-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 30-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 10-11 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 10-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-16 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 5-9
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 24, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 28-15 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 28-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 9-24 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 9-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 20-32 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 20-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 28-15 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 28-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 9-24 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 9-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 20-32 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 20-32
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.