October Term 2022 · Docket 21-1484
Does the Navajo Reservation Include a Right to Water?
The Navajo Nation claims a federal right to water. Arizona disputes this claim.
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. Liu argued the reservation includes water rights under Winters.
Ms. Maguire noted confusion about federal reserved rights during argument.
Justice Gorsuch asked about treaty provisions for agriculture and permanent homes.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 120, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 120, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 11-17
- 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 25-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 33-31 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 33-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 35-51 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 35-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 51-39 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 51-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 47-19 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 47-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 37-1 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 37-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 17-19
- 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 43-47 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 98, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 98, lines 31-37
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The Navajo Nation seeks water rights for its reservation. Arizona opposes this claim. The Court must resolve this conflict.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 120, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 120, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 33-31 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 33-31
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 20, 2023.
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 98, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 98, lines 31-37
What each side wants
The Navajo Nation wants a federal water right for its reservation.
Arizona wants to deny the Navajo Nation a federal water right.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 120, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 120, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 33-31 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 33-31
What each side says
The Navajo Nation argues reservation creation includes water rights.
Arizona argues the reservation does not include water rights.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 120, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 120, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 33-31 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 33-31
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked how far the water source is from agricultural areas.
Justice Alito asked if the Nation has hundreds of thousands of acre-feet of water.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 35-51 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 35-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 51-39 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 51-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 47-19 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 47-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 37-1 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 37-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 17-19
- 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 43-47 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-47
Why it matters
This case determines water access for the Navajo Nation. It affects agricultural use in the region. It defines federal reserved rights for reservations.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 120, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 120, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 33-31 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 33-31
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 11, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 35-51 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 35-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 51-39 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 51-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 47-19 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 47-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 37-1 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 37-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 17-19
- 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 43-47 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 98, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 98, lines 31-37
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 120, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 120, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 33-31 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 33-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 120, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 120, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 33-31 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 33-31
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.