El Paso Natural Gas Company, et al. v. Laura Neztsosie et al.

Decided May 3, 1999. David Hackett Souter delivered the opinion of the Court.

Docket 98-6 · 526 U.S. 473 (1999) · Cited 314 times

Holding

In ruling that the BIA must supplement its weighing test by examining these additional factors, the Ninth Circuit failed to accord the BIA’s interpretation the level of deference required under Chevron U.

The Court’s statement of the holding, from the opinion’s syllabus. The syllabus is prepared by the Reporter of Decisions and is not part of the opinion of the Court — read the official opinion for authority.

How the Justices voted

Decided 9–0.

“Concurring” means agreeing with the outcome; any split shown is the Court’s judgment, not each Justice’s reasoning. Source: the Supreme Court Database (Spaeth et al.), Washington University.

Precedents cited

Supreme Court decisions this opinion relies on, ordered by how often it cites each. Cases in our collection link through; others are named.

• National Farmers Union Insurance v. Crow Tribe of Indians · 471 U.S. 845 (1985)
• Bowen v. United States Postal Service · 459 U.S. 212 (1983)
• Berkemer v. McCarty · 468 U.S. 420 (1984)
• Metropolitan Life Insurance v. Taylor · 481 U.S. 58 (1987)
• Iowa Mutual Insurance v. LaPlante · 480 U.S. 9 (1987)
• Morley Construction Co. v. Maryland Casualty Co. · 300 U.S. 185 (1937)
• Federated Department Stores, Inc. v. Moitie · 452 U.S. 394 (1981)
• Trans World Airlines, Inc. v. Thurston · 469 U.S. 111 (1985)
• Santa Clara Pueblo v. Martinez · 436 U.S. 49 (1978)
• Board of Trustees of State Univ. of NY v. Fox · 492 U.S. 469 (1989)
• United States v. ITT Continental Baking Co. · 420 U.S. 223 (1975)
• Strunk v. United States · 412 U.S. 434 (1973)
• National Labor Relations Board v. Express Publishing Co. · 312 U.S. 426 (1941)
• United States & Interstate Commerce Commission v. American Railway Express Co. · 265 U.S. 425 (1924)
• LeTulle v. Scofield · 308 U.S. 415 (1940)
• Northwest Airlines, Inc. v. County of Kent · 510 U.S. 355 (1994)
• Union Tool Co. v. Wilson · 259 U.S. 107 (1922)
• National Labor Relations Board v. International Van Lines · 409 U.S. 48 (1972)

Cited by

Later Supreme Court opinions in our collection that cite this case.

• Greenlaw v. United States · 554 U.S. 237 (2008)
• Nevada v. Hicks · 533 U.S. 353 (2001)
• Beneficial National Bank v. Anderson · 539 U.S. 1 (2003)
• Jones v. United States · 527 U.S. 373 (1999)

Official text

Read the official opinion (U.S. Reports, govinfo.gov)

Explore from here

David Hackett Souter’s profile · All Supreme Court opinions · The Supreme Court

Source: Supreme Court of the United States, slip opinions (1999). Citation count from the Free Law Project’s CourtListener bulk data. Data last verified 2026-07-03. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).