Puyallup Tribe, Inc. v. Department of Game of Washington

Summary

Justice STEVENS delivered the opinion of the Court, holding that the Tribe's sovereign immunity bars the state court's jurisdiction over the Tribe itself, so the portions of the order against the Tribe are vacated, while the State may continue to regulate individual tribal members off the reservation. Justice BLACKMUN filed a brief concurrence, joining the majority but expressing doubts about the continued vitality of the tribal‑immunity doctrine. Justice BRENNAN, joined by Justice MARSHALL, dissented in part, agreeing with the majority on sovereign‑immunity but rejecting the Court's interpretation of the Treaty of Medicine Creek and would have reversed and remanded on the treaty‑rights issue.