The case of Ward et al. v. Board of County Commissioners of Love County, Oklahoma in 1919 revolved around a dispute over the validity and enforcement of an oil and gas lease on land owned by members of the Chickasaw Nation, who were minors at the time. The Supreme Court was asked to determine whether state courts had jurisdiction over such matters or if it fell under federal purview due to the involvement of Native American lands and interests. The court ruled that while states generally have authority over property within their borders, this power is limited when it comes to properties held in trust by the United States for Native Americans. Therefore, any contracts or leases involving these lands must be approved by federal authorities before they can be enforced in state courts.

The dissenting opinion in the case of Ward et al. v. Board of County Commissioners of Love County, Oklahoma disagreed with the majority's decision to uphold a county law that allowed for the seizure and sale of cattle found on public highways. The dissent argued that this law was unconstitutional as it violated property rights without due process, asserting that seizing and selling someone's livestock based solely on their presence on a public highway was an extreme measure not proportionate to any potential damage caused by such trespassing. They also contended that there were other less drastic means available to address issues related to stray livestock which would not infringe upon individual property rights so severely.