In the United States v. Billings case of 1913, the Supreme Court ruled on a dispute involving land rights in Oklahoma. The defendant, Billings, had purchased land from an individual who was part Choctaw and Chickasaw by blood but not enrolled as a member of either tribe. The U.S government argued that this sale violated federal law which prohibited sales of such lands without its consent until after allotment and removal of restrictions. The court held that since the seller was not officially recognized as a tribal member at the time he received his patent for the land, he did not fall under those individuals whose sales were restricted by federal law. Therefore, his sale to Billings was valid and could stand without government approval or intervention. This decision clarified how laws regarding Native American lands applied to individuals with native ancestry but no formal tribal affiliation.

In the dissenting opinion for United States v. Billings, it was argued that the government did not have a right to seize property without due process of law. The dissenting justices believed that this case represented an overreach of governmental power and violated constitutional protections against unlawful search and seizure. They contended that while the government has a legitimate interest in preventing illegal activities, such as smuggling or tax evasion, these interests should not supersede individual rights to privacy and property. Furthermore, they expressed concern about potential abuses of power if the government were allowed unchecked authority to confiscate personal belongings without proper legal procedures being followed first.