No. 21-1484October Term 2022Decided Jun 22, 2023
Arizona v. Navajo Nation
The case asked whether the 1868 treaty and related federal law imposed an affirmative federal duty to secure water for the Navajo Nation.
Case status
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Jun 22, 2023
- What it's about
The case asked whether the 1868 treaty and related federal law imposed an affirmative federal duty to secure water for the Navajo Nation. The Court held they did not impose that affirmative duty and reversed the Ninth Circuit.
Question presented
Does the 1868 Treaty between the Navajo Nation and the United States impose an affirmative duty on the United States to secure water for the tribe?
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit / Decision released Jun 22, 2023
- Area
Equal Protection
Timing
Decided June 22, 2023
The Court released its decision 94 days after oral argument on March 20, 2023. The median for cases argued in March is 83 days.
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Apr 30, 2026
- Method
- Methodology