Talton v. Mayes
Talton v. Mayes is a significant Supreme Court case addressing the intersection of Native American sovereignty and the U.S. legal system. The case arose when a Native American, convicted of murder in a Cherokee nation court, argued that his trial was unfair due to the grand jury's composition, which had only five members, thus allegedly violating the Fifth Amendment. The Supreme Court, in an 8-1 decision, ruled that the Fifth Amendment did not apply to Native Americans in tribal courts, affirming the sovereignty of the Cherokee Nation. Chief Justice Edward D. White's opinion emphasized that federal law only applies to tribal governance when it conflicts with specific national laws. This ruling highlights the complexities surrounding tribal sovereignty and the limitations of federal rights within tribal jurisdictions. Justice John Marshall Harlan dissented, indicating the ongoing legal debates about rights in Native American courts. Overall, this case reflects broader themes of legal interpretation and the recognition of Native American self-governance within the U.S. legal framework.
Talton v. Mayes
Date: May 18, 1896
Citation: 163 U.S. 376
Issues: Native American sovereignty; Fifth Amendment
Significance: The Supreme Court held that Native Americans in tribal courts were not protected in the same way as other U.S. citizens.
A Native American convicted of murder in a Cherokee nation court maintained that his trial was unfair because the indicting grand jury had only five members, contrary to the Fifth Amendment. However, by an 8-1 vote, the Supreme Court found that the Fifth Amendment did not apply because the Cherokee nation retained its sovereignty. In the opinion for the Court, Chief Justice Edward D. White held that the U.S. Bill of Rights did not apply to Native Americans in tribal courts. Federal law would not apply unless tribal law conflicted with a specific national law applied to Native American tribal governments. Justice John Marshall Harlan dissented.
