Supreme Court of the United States
Idaho v. United States
June 18, 2001533 U.S. 262
Summary
The Court held that the United States, as trustee for the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, retains title to submerged lands under Lake Coeur d’Alene and the St. Joe River within the Tribe’s reservation. The Court reasoned Congress intended to defeat Idaho’s title to those lands before statehood by clearly including submerged lands in the reservation. Chief Justice Rehnquist dissented, arguing Congress must divest state title with a clear declaration before the date of admission to the Union.