Home > Great American Court Cases > United States ex rel. Standing Bear v. Crook

Legal Citation: 25 F.Cas. 695 (1879)

Petitioners
Standing Bear and other Ponca Indians

Respondent
George Crook, U.S. Army General

Petitioners' Claim
That confinement of American Indians by the U.S. Army violated the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Chief Lawyers for Petitioners
John L. Webster, Andrew J. Poppleton

Chief Lawyer for Respondent
Genio M. Lambertson

Justice for the Court
Elmer S. Dundy

Place
Lincoln, Nebraska

Date of Decision
12 May 1879

Decision
The Court upheld Standing Bear's claim and ordered the Poncas released from U.S. custody.

Significance
The ruling established that Indians are "persons" under U.S. law and those who are not members of tribes have rights to challenge U.S. actions. Issues surrounding Standing Bear's...