The Supreme Court case Phillips, Governor of Oklahoma, et al. v. United States et al., 1940 revolved around the issue of whether or not the state of Oklahoma had jurisdiction over crimes committed by or against Native Americans on tribal lands within its borders. The court ruled in favor of the United States, stating that under federal law and treaties with Native American tribes, it was clear that only federal courts held jurisdiction over such matters. This decision reaffirmed previous rulings which established a distinction between state and federal jurisdictions when dealing with issues related to Native American tribes and their members residing on tribal land.

In the dissenting opinion for Phillips, Governor of Oklahoma, et al. v. United States et al., Justice McReynolds argued that the Supreme Court should not have intervened in this case as it was a matter best left to state courts and legislatures. He believed that the federal government had overstepped its bounds by interfering with Oklahoma's ability to regulate its own natural resources - specifically oil production. According to him, there was no clear evidence showing that excessive production of oil in one state would negatively impact interstate commerce or other states' rights; thus, he saw no constitutional basis for federal intervention under the Commerce Clause. Furthermore, he expressed concern about potential negative consequences of such interference on states' sovereignty and economic stability.