Oliphant v. Suquamish Indian Tribe

Oliphant v. Suquamish Indian Tribe was a 1978 U.S. Supreme Court case that determined tribal courts do not have jurisdiction to prosecute non-Indians for crimes committed on tribal land. The case involved a non-Indian who was arrested for assault by a tribal police officer. The Court ruled that tribes lack the authority to impose criminal laws on non-Indians, emphasizing the limitations of tribal sovereignty regarding non-Indians. This decision has significant implications for tribal authority and the treatment of non-Indians on reservations, often raising issues about legal jurisdiction and tribal rights.