Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians v. Coughlin
View Official PDFBelow are plain-language sections to help you understand what the Court decided in Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians v. Coughlin and why it matters. Quotes are taken from the syllabus (the Court’s short summary at the start of the opinion).
Summary
A short, plain-English overview of Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians v. Coughlin.
The Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians case addressed whether the Bankruptcy Code abrogates tribal sovereign immunity. The First Circuit had ruled that the Code unequivocally strips tribes of their immunity. The Supreme Court affirmed this decision, holding that the Code's provisions apply to all governments, including federally recognized Indian tribes.
Holding
The single most important “bottom line” of what the Court decided in Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians v. Coughlin.
The Court held that the Bankruptcy Code unambiguously abrogates the sovereign immunity of all governments, including federally recognized Indian tribes.
Constitutional Concepts
These are the Constitution-related themes that appear in Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians v. Coughlin. Click a concept to see other cases that involve the same idea.
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Why State Sovereign Immunity is relevant to Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians v. Coughlin
The case involves the abrogation of sovereign immunity, specifically tribal sovereign immunity, under the Bankruptcy Code.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)The Bankruptcy Code unambiguously abrogates the sovereign immunity of all governments, including federally recognized Indian tribes.
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Why State–Federal Power is relevant to Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians v. Coughlin
The case addresses the allocation of authority between federal law and tribal sovereignty, particularly in the context of bankruptcy proceedings.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)The Code's abrogation provision plainly applies to them as well.
Key Quotes
Short excerpts from the syllabus in Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians v. Coughlin that support the summary and concepts above.
The Bankruptcy Code unambiguously abrogates the sovereign immunity of all governments, including federally recognized Indian tribes.
Congress need not use any particular words to pass this clear-statement test.
The definition of 'governmental unit' exudes comprehensiveness.
