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No. 17-387October Term 2017Decided May 21, 2018

Docket 17-387October Term 2017 (2017–2018)

Upper Skagit Tribe v. Lundgren

This case arose from a boundary dispute between the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe and neighboring landowners in Washington after the Tribe claimed that about one acre on the neighbors’ side of a fence actually belonged to it.

Case status

Current stage
Decided
Latest event
Decision released May 21, 2018
Case Accepted
Arguments
Decision ReleasedMay 21, 2018
What it's about

This case arose from a boundary dispute between the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe and neighboring landowners in Washington after the Tribe claimed that about one acre on the neighbors’ side of a fence actually belonged to it. The Supreme Court considered whether the neighbors’ quiet title suit could go forward in state court despite the Tribe’s claim of sovereign immunity.

Question presented

Does a court's exercise of in rem jurisdiction overcome the jurisdictional bar of tribal sovereign immunity when the tribe has not waived immunity and Congress has not unequivocally abrogated it?

Case path

Supreme Court of Washington / Decision released May 21, 2018

Area

Decided Supreme Court case

Timing

Decided May 21, 2018

The Court released its decision on May 21, 2018 without hearing oral argument.

Grounding

Grounding
Primary-source trail available.
Note
Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
Checked
Jul 3, 2026
Primary materials5