Hughes v. Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Hughes v. Oklahoma, 441 U.S. 322
(1979), was a United States Supreme Court decision, which held that the United States Congress
may enact legislation governing wildlife on federal lands
. When conflicting state law exists, the supremacy clause ensures that federal legislation will prevail. The Court thereby overruled Geer v. Connecticut
(1896), rejecting the earlier case’s “19th Century legal fiction of state ownership” of wildlife. In the Court’s view, this “fiction” had “been eroded to the point of virtual extinction in cases involving regulation of wild animals.” With the fall of Geer, the last precedential impediment to the federal government’s wildlife management
authority was removed. This case stemmed from Hughes being convicted of shipping minnows fished from Oklahoma waters out of the state.
Case citation
Case citation is the system used in many countries to identify the decisions in past court cases, either in special series of books called reporters or law reports, or in a 'neutral' form which will identify a decision wherever it was reported...
(1979), was a United States Supreme Court decision, which held that the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
may enact legislation governing wildlife on federal lands
Federal lands
Federal lands are lands in the United States for which ownership is claimed by the U.S. federal government.-Primary federal land holders:*Bureau of Land Management*United States Forest Service*United States Fish and Wildlife Service*National Park Service...
. When conflicting state law exists, the supremacy clause ensures that federal legislation will prevail. The Court thereby overruled Geer v. Connecticut
Geer v. Connecticut
Geer v. Connecticut, 161 U.S. 519 , was a United States Supreme Court decision, which dealt with the transportation of wild fowl over state lines. Geer held that the states owned the wild animals within their borders and could strictly regulate their management and harvest...
(1896), rejecting the earlier case’s “19th Century legal fiction of state ownership” of wildlife. In the Court’s view, this “fiction” had “been eroded to the point of virtual extinction in cases involving regulation of wild animals.” With the fall of Geer, the last precedential impediment to the federal government’s wildlife management
Wildlife management
Wildlife management attempts to balance the needs of wildlife with the needs of people using the best available science. Wildlife management can include game keeping, wildlife conservation and pest control...
authority was removed. This case stemmed from Hughes being convicted of shipping minnows fished from Oklahoma waters out of the state.