The case stemmed from a 2016 incident where a tribal police officer detained a non-tribal motorist found with guns and drugs.[1][2] In lower courts it had been argued that evidence gathered by Native American police should not be admissible in cases regarding non-Native Americans.[3]
Decision
The case was argued on March 23, 2021.[4] The case was decided unanimously on June 1, 2021, allowing tribal police to detain and investigate those suspected of criminal activity on tribal lands regardless of racial status.[5][4] The court found that in such cases non-natives may be detained when on a public right of way inside a reservation.[6][7] Non-native detainees may be detained for a reasonable length of time until non-tribal police can arrive at the scene to handle the incident.[5] The opinion for the case was written by Justice Stephen Breyer.[8] A concurring opinion was written by Justice Samuel Alito.[9]
