No. 19-1414October Term 2019Decided Jun 1, 2021
United States v. Cooley
This case asked whether a tribal police officer on the Crow Reservation could stop, briefly detain, and search a non-Native driver on a public road running through the reservation after seeing signs of possible drug and gun crimes.
Case status
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Jun 1, 2021
- What it's about
This case asked whether a tribal police officer on the Crow Reservation could stop, briefly detain, and search a non-Native driver on a public road running through the reservation after seeing signs of possible drug and gun crimes. The Supreme Court held that tribal officers do have that authority when they suspect violations of state or federal law and are holding the person for transfer to outside authorities.
Question presented
Whether the lower courts erred in suppressing evidence on the theory that a police officer of an Indian tribe lacked authority to temporarily detain and search respondent, a non-Indian, on a public right-of-way within a reservation based on a potential violation of state or federal law.
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit / Decision released Jun 1, 2021
- Area
Decided Supreme Court case
Timing
Decided June 1, 2021
The Court released its decision on June 1, 2021 without hearing oral argument.
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 25, 2026
- Method
- Methodology