Document: 507 U.S. 99 113 S.Ct. 1119 122 L.Ed.2d 457 Emery L. NEGONSOTT, Petitioner,v.Harold SAMUELS, Warden, et al. No. 91-5397. Argued Jan. 11, 1993. Decided Feb. 24, Syllabus* Petitioner Negonsott, a member of the Kickapoo Tribe and resident reservation in Kansas, was convicted by County District Court jury aggravated battery for shooting another Indian on reservation. The court set aside conviction ground that Federal Government had exclusive jurisdiction to prosecute Negonsott under Major Crimes Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1153, which encompasses 13 enumerated felonies committed "[a]ny against . person or property other within country." However, State Supreme reinstated conviction, holding Kansas 3243, conferred all crimes Indians reservations State. Subsequently, dismissed Negonsott's petition writ habeas corpus, Appeals affirmed. Held: Act explicitly confers over offenses involving reservations. Congress has plenary authority alter otherwise nature federal 1153. Standing alone, Act's first sentence—which "offenses same extent as its courts have elsewhere accordance with laws State"—is an unambiguous grant both major minor offenses. And most logical meaning second provides nothing shall "deprive" their "jurisdiction defined United States"—is retain try subject jurisdiction, while persons conduct when it violates state law. This is only reading gives effect every clause word statute, supported legislative history. In contrast, if this were accept argument sentence renders whenever underlying punishable law, would be left those one another, result can hardly reconciled sentence's unqualified jurisdiction. There no need resort canon statutory construction ambiguities should resolved favor Indians, since quite unambiguously Pp. ____. 933 F.2d 818 (C.A.10 1991), REHNQUIST, C.J., delivered opinion Court, WHITE, BLACKMUN, STEVENS, O'CONNOR, KENNEDY, SOUTER, JJ., joined, but Part II-B SCALIA THOMAS, joined. Pamela S. Thompson, City, KS, petitioner. William K. Kelley, Washington, DC, amicus curiae special leave Court. Robert T. Stephan, Topeka, respondents. Chief Justice REHNQUIST Court.** 1 question presented case whether petitioner, Indian, state-law offense We hold does. 2 * Petitioner, Brown County, Kansas. March 1985, he arrested county sheriff connection After trial petitioner found guilty battery. Kan.Stat.Ann. 21-3414 (1988). aside, however, petitioner's "all located Kansas." v. Nioce, 239 Kan. 127, 131, 716 P.2d 585, 588 (1986). On remand, sentenced imprisonment term three ten years. 3 then filed corpus 28 2254, reasserting his claim lacked him petition, 696 F.Supp. 561 (Kan.1988), Tenth Circuit (1991). language ambiguous "whether intended concurrent [Indian] specific crimes." Id., at 820-821. examining history, ambiguity construction, held 821-823. granted certiorari resolve conflict between Courts Appeals, 505 ----, 112 3024, 120 896 (1992),1 now affirm. II 4 Criminal "Indian country," 1151, "is governed complex patchwork federal, state, tribal law." Duro Reina, 495 676, 680, n. 1, 110 2053, 2057, 109 693 (1990). Country 1152, extends general criminal maritime enclave country, except Indian." See F. Cohen, Handbook Law 288 (1982 ed.). These latter typically are concerned tribe, unless they among Act. Originally enacted 1885, establishes 1153(a).2 As text see 2, supra, our prior cases make clear, covered "exclusive" States John, 437 634, 651, 98 2541, 2550, 57 489 (1978); Seymour Superintendent Washington Penitentiary, 368 351, 359, 82 424, 429, 7 346 (1962); Kagama, 118 375, 384, 6 1109, 1114, 30 L.Ed. 228 (1886). 5 these jurisdictional guideposts, Confederated Bands Tribes Yakima Nation, 439 463, 470-471, 740, 746, 58 740 (1979), exercised from time time. concerns full: "Jurisdiction reservations, including trust restricted allotments, "This section not deprive reservations." June 8, 1940, ch. 276, 54 Stat. 249 (codified 3243). 8 Passed followed short order virtually identical statutes granting North Dakota Iowa, respectively, certain borders. May 31, 1946, 279, 60 229; 30, 1948, 759, 62 1161. 9 asserted challenges State's regard. He contends added preserve character resulting least two listed Act,3 incident. According confer misdemeanor To construe statute otherwise, asserts, "implied repeal" Moreover, continues, adopted below odds history well liberally construed Indians. 10 "Our task give will Congress, where been expressed reasonably plain terms, must ordinarily regarded conclusive." Griffin Oceanic Contractors, Inc., 458 564, 570, 102 3245, 3250, 73 973 (1982) (internal quotation marks omitted). analyzing contentions, then, we begin itself. "Kansas State." 3243. offenses—major —committed does assert otherwise. Instead, rests states States." Ibid. But proviso, believe, §§ 1152 11 interpretation consistent conferral referred affairs terms having "concurrent jurisdiction" F.2d, individuals Act; law also pursuant Strictly speaking, sense, fact "legislative" define similar 12 Our "to [the] statute." Moskal States, 498 103, 109-110, 111 461, ---- - 449 (1990) Petitioner's either left, another. contrary assertion work noted, country. any event, altered landscape, alteration merely implication: B Although think secondary materials unnecessary decide case, supports construction. Both House Senate Reports accompanying consist almost entirely letter memorandum Acting Secretary Interior, E.K. Burlew, Chairmen Affairs Committees, provide background account forces leading enactment H.R.Rep. 1999, 76th Cong., 3d Sess. (1940) (hereinafter H.R.Rep.); S.Rep. 1523, S.Rep.). practice, "even act charged constituted [the Act]," because such unenforced tribes (who without courts). H.R.Rep., 4; S.Rep., 3. did object scheme, welcomed it. When entertain prosecutions called into question, "expressed wish hitherto continued." 4. Thus, designed "merely confirm relationship willingly assumed, accepted, produced successful results, considerable period years." 5; 5.4 14 Since ratify existing scheme de facto follows intend prosecution crimes. view experimental simply already 1153 event solve identified enforcement problem (i.e., declined exercise jurisdiction). explanation squares Burlew's conclusion that, although "proposed relinquishment appropriately provided not," "[t]he open precluded bill particular instance course may deemed advisable." 15 argues Congress' amendments original version became confirms originally drafted, "[t]hat hereby relinquished others others, Kansas," stated country "are modified accordingly." 86 Cong.Rec. 5596 (1940). eventually deleted bill's reference Rather than supporting accord statute. 16 proposed Burlew committee chairmen reflect more accurately "legal situation exists created." 3; 2. explained: 17 "The proposes relinquish intending thereby types crimes, minor, Therefore, strictly relinquishing conferring upon complete retaining, amended clear not, suggests, narrow category excluded 1152. 19 why 3243 place. likely thought preferable refer generally rather list draw negative inference decision delete too slender reed rest departure import C 20 Finally, find principles unavailing. cites Bryan Itasca 426 373, 96 2102, 48 710 (1976), proposition "laws Indians." Brief 11. What actually said Bryan, " 'statutes passed benefit dependent construed, doubtful expressions being Indians.' U.S., 392, S.Ct., 2112 (quoting Alaska Pacific Fisheries 248 78, 89, 39 40, 42, 63 138 (1918)). claims Appeals' harms eliminating historically stewardship subjecting possibility dual authorities. 21 It us "passed tribes." fall category, seems "benefit" question. reason equate "benefit tribes," used accused criminals," regard interests victims tribe reasons previously discussed, therefore occasion South Carolina Catawba Tribe, 476 498, 506, 106 2039, 2044, 90 490 judgment 22 Affirmed. syllabus constitutes part prepared Reporter Decisions convenience reader. Detroit Lumber Co., 200 321, 337, 26 282, 287, 50 499. ** THOMAS join opinion. Compare Youngbear Brewer, 415 807 (ND Iowa 1976), aff'd, 549 74 (CA8 1977). Youngbear, Eighth upheld lower ruling defendant similarly worded State, 1161, "(a) Any who commits following offenses, namely, murder, manslaughter, kidnaping, maiming, felony chapter 109A, incest, assault intent commit dangerous weapon, serious bodily injury, arson, burglary, robbery, 661 title penalties committing above States. "(b) subsection (a) punished force offense." battery, lists "assault weapon" injury." 1153(a). 113(c) (f). assume, sake deciding convicted, (1988), comparable Amici Nebraska allege Potawatomi opposed Curiae 17. amici, sent telegram Chairman Committee Affairs, Representative W. Rogers, voicing opposition exchange several letters. id., 17-18. correspondence contained reprinted instead National Archives. Roger's letters 'Your Affairs,' 10, 1939), way knowing what extent, all, Tribe's brought attention members Congress. forth conclusive purposes discerning understanding introduction

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