Results from Round 3 of the Greatest Cases Tournament

Here they are (results of the first and second series):

Match-up No. 9

(3) Ex parte Kan-Gi-Shun-Ca (Crow Dog) defeats (30) United States v. Lara: 58 percent to 42 percent

Once again, the ageless cases are roundly defeating the newer cases. I guess Lara‘s holding, that Congress can (at least theoretically) restore tribal sovereignty to say, oh, I don’t know, prosecute non-Indian DV offenders is less “great” than a 19th century holding that lasted a couple years. Ok. I buy that.

Match-up No. 10

(14) Bryan v. Itasca County defeats (19) United States v. Sioux Nation: 51 percent to 49 percent

This was the closest match-up so far, with just a few votes separating the cases. I’d have gone with the multi-million dollar judgment over the $150 tax bill. An arbitrary and perhaps useless call on my part, given how closely matched these cases were (and the fact that the federal government still retains possession of the Black Hills).

Match-up No. 11

(6) Winters v. United States defeats (27) Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians v. Holyfield: 71 percent to 29 percent

Once again, an older case wipes the floor with a new-ish precedent. I guess I agree, in that the questions were broader in Winters than in Holyfield, which continues to be cited more for its recitation of legislative history than for its holding, which was pretty narrow. Still, a bit of a surprise, at least in terms how not-close this one was.

Match-up No. 12

(11) McClanahan v. Arizona State Tax Commission defeats (22) United States v. Mitchell II: 76 percent to 24 percent

Proves once again that people just don’t like paying taxes. It’s true that Mitchell II hasn’t aged all that well.

2 thoughts on “Results from Round 3 of the Greatest Cases Tournament

  1. John LaVelle September 5, 2012 / 12:17 pm

    My too-late vote in Round 3 probably would have had the case about the U.S. ripping off the Sioux Nation’s sacred homelands edging out the case about Minnesota taxing the Chippewas’ mobile homes. I’m just sayin’…

  2. Matthew L.M. Fletcher September 5, 2012 / 2:20 pm

    Man, your vote would’ve been critical. I think the separation was maybe 1 or 2 votes.

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