October Term 2020 · Docket 20-543
Do Alaska Native Corporations qualify as Indian Tribes under federal law?
The dispute centers on whether Alaska Native Corporations meet the legal definition of an Indian Tribe for federal funding purposes.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion 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
Mr. Rasmussen argued that the D.C. Circuit correctly excluded Alaska Native Corporations.
Mr. Clement stated that Congress created Alaska Native Corporations as unique entities.
Mr. Clement argued that Alaska Native Corporations have never been sovereign.
Mr. Guarnieri argued that Congress deliberately included Alaska Native Corporations in the definition.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 103, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 103, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 27-41 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 27-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 15-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 29-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 41-13 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 31-21 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 31-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 37-31 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 37-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 53-39 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 53-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 41-55 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 41-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 35-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 35-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 25-51 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 25-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-41
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case asks if Alaska Native Corporations count as Indian Tribes under federal statutes. The government argues they do not. The tribes argue they do.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 103, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 103, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 37-31 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 37-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 53-39 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 53-39
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 19, 2021.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 39-11
What each side wants
The government wants the Court to confirm that Alaska Native Corporations are not Indian Tribes.
The tribes want the Court to declare that Alaska Native Corporations are Indian Tribes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 103, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 103, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 37-31 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 37-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 53-39 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 53-39
What each side says
The government argues that Alaska Native Corporations lack the formal political recognition required by the statute.
The tribes argue that Congress intended to include Alaska Native Corporations in the definition of Indian Tribe.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 103, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 103, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 37-31 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 37-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 53-39 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 53-39
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked how the Court can limit the ruling to the CARES Act only.
Justice Breyer asked if Alaska corporations make expenditures similar to those in the CARES Act.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 27-41 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 27-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 15-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 29-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 41-13 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 31-21 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 31-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 41-55 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 41-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 35-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 35-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 25-51 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 25-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-41
Why it matters
This case determines which entities receive federal Indian benefits. It affects the distribution of special funds to Alaska natives. It clarifies the legal status of Alaska Native Corporations.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 103, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 103, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 37-31 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 37-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 53-39 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 53-39
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 13-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 27-41 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 27-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 15-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 29-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 41-13 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 31-21 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 31-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 41-55 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 41-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 35-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 35-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 25-51 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 25-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-41
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 103, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 103, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 37-31 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 37-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 53-39 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 53-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 103, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 103, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 37-31 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 37-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 53-39 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 53-39
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.