October Term 2018 · Docket 17-1107
Did Oklahoma statehood end tribal sovereignty over eastern lands?
The dispute centers on whether Congress ended tribal sovereignty when it created Oklahoma.
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
the side that brought the case claims Congress destroyed reservation features during the path to statehood.
the opposing side claims the lower court correctly applied the text of the laws.
the side that brought the case argues the lower court decision should be overturned.
the opposing side argues the lower court decision should stand.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-17 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 25-55 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 25-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 11-53 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 11-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 53-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 53-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 55-55 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 55-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 7-27 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 7-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 45-41 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 45-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-45
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case asks if eastern Oklahoma remains an Indian reservation. The answer changes who controls criminal law there.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 25-55 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 25-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 11-53 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 11-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 7-27 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 7-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 45-41 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 45-41
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 27, 2018.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 35-37
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the court to find the land is not a reservation.
the opposing side wants the court to find the land is a reservation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 25-55 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 25-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 11-53 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 11-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 7-27 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 7-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 45-41 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 45-41
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues Congress ended all tribal sovereignty before statehood.
the opposing side argues the text of the laws preserves tribal sovereignty.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 25-55 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 25-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 11-53 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 11-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 7-27 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 7-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 45-41 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 45-41
What the justices asked
Justice Breyer asked if presidential approval of tribal laws ends sovereignty.
Justice Sotomayor asked for the exact date sovereignty ended, if it did.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-17 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 53-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 53-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 55-55 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 55-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-45
Why it matters
The outcome determines which government controls criminal law in eastern Oklahoma. It defines the scope of tribal power in the region.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 25-55 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 25-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 11-53 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 11-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 7-27 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 7-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 45-41 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 45-41
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 23-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-17 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 53-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 53-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 55-55 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 55-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-45
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 25, lines 25-55 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 25-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 11-53 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 11-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 7-27 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 7-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 45-41 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 45-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 25-55 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 25-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 11-53 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 11-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 7-27 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 7-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 45-41 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 45-41
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.