October Term 2019 · Docket 18-9526
Does Oklahoma hold criminal jurisdiction over the eastern half of the state?
The dispute centers on whether federal law reserved the eastern half of Oklahoma for Native American tribes.
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
Oklahoma's counsel argued the eastern half was never reservation land.
the side that brought the case's counsel argued sovereign rights require clear congressional text.
Justice Thomas noted prior cases only involved surplus land disposition.
Justice Ginsburg questioned the claim of immunity from major crime prosecution.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 53-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 53-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-53 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 9-23 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 9-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 33-55 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 33-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 47-21 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 47-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 13-15
- 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 23-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 55-19 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 55-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 9-53 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 9-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 45-11 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 45-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 29-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 37-19 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 37-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 90, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 90, lines 33-39
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests state criminal jurisdiction over a specific region of Oklahoma.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 55-19 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 55-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 90, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 90, lines 33-39
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on May 11, 2020.
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 69, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 35-43
What each side wants
Oklahoma seeks to assert criminal jurisdiction over the eastern half of the state.
the side that brought the case seeks to limit state jurisdiction to federal authority.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 55-19 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 55-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 90, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 90, lines 33-39
What each side says
Oklahoma argues the land was never reservation land and remains state territory.
the side that brought the case argues Congress must clearly speak to alter sovereign rights.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 55-19 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 55-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 90, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 90, lines 33-39
What the justices asked
Justice Breyer asked if Congress intended state courts to try major crimes.
Justice Ginsburg asked if federal penalties match state penalties and due process protections.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 53-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 53-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-53 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 9-23 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 9-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 33-55 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 33-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 47-21 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 47-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 9-53 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 9-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 45-11 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 45-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 29-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 37-19 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 37-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-29
Why it matters
The outcome defines which government prosecutes crimes in a large portion of Oklahoma.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 55-19 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 55-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 90, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 90, lines 33-39
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 53-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 53-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-53 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 9-23 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 9-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 33-55 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 33-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 47-21 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 47-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 9-53 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 9-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 45-11 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 45-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 29-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 37-19 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 37-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-29
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 13-17 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 55-19 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 55-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 90, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 90, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 55-19 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 55-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 90, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 90, lines 33-39
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.