 The case has been widely covered in books and news media . Tribal court authority has been altered by the U.S. government for decades , affecting jurisdictional powers . In Justice Thomas 's conclusion at the end of this case , he stated , " History points in both directions . " Thomas further stated , " Federal Indian policy , is , to say the least , schizophrenic . " Thomas 's statements directly address the Supreme Court 's confusion on both present and future Federal Indian Policy . As Justice Souter stated in his dissent , this remains " an area peculiarly susceptible to confusion . " 
