October Term 2021 · Docket 20-7622
Can a person face two trials for one act on tribal land?
The dispute centers on whether federal and tribal courts can both prosecute the same violent act.
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
Denezpi's counsel argued the Double Jeopardy Clause limits sovereign authority.
The government argued the side that brought the case committed two distinct offenses.
Justice Barrett questioned the assimilation of tribal crimes into federal law.
Justice Sotomayor asked about the control of tribal prosecutors.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 37-53 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 37-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 29-39
- 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 23-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 13-35 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 13-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 37-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-1 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-41
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Denezpi committed a violent sexual assault on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation. He faced charges in both tribal and federal courts. The Double Jeopardy Clause generally bars two trials for the same offense. The core question is whether these two sovereigns exercise distinct authority. If they do, both prosecutions are legal.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 13-35 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 13-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 21-25
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 22, 2022.
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 68, lines 11-1 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-1
What each side wants
Denezpi wants the federal trial dismissed to prevent double punishment.
The United States wants to proceed with the federal prosecution.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 13-35 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 13-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 21-25
What each side says
Denezpi argues the tribe and federal government share the same sovereign power over this crime.
The United States argues the tribe and federal government hold distinct sovereign powers.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 13-35 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 13-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 21-25
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if small tribes can effectively use federal grants.
Justice Barrett asked why Denezpi did not argue tribal crimes are federal crimes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 37-53 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 37-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 37-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-1 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-41
Why it matters
This case defines the boundary between tribal and federal criminal jurisdiction. It determines whether individuals on reservations face dual prosecution for single acts. The result shapes the practical reach of tribal sovereignty. It impacts how federal prosecutors handle crimes committed by tribal members.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 13-35 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 13-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 21-25
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 23-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 37-53 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 37-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 37-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-1 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-41
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 35, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 13-35 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 13-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 13-35 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 13-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 21-25
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.