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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2003

The federal judge overseeing the Indian trust fund case on Wednesday ordered acting special trustee Donna Erwin to submit to another round of questioning.

Erwin is being required to testify because government attorneys blocked her from answering certain questions at an earlier proceeding. U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth said the government's objections were without merit.

The plaintiffs want to depose Erwin, who was in town earlier this week for President Bush's 2004 budget rollout, on Friday at the offices of the Native American Rights Fund.

In related trust fund news, the Department of Interior's latest quarterly report on trust reform was filed in court this week. A copy of the report is available on the department's web site.

The report cites Congressional approval of the reorganization of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the Office of Special Trustee (OST), the fiscal year 2004 budget request and the appointment of Ross Swimmer as Special Trustee as "significant" events.

The resignation of Neal McCaleb as assistant secretary for Indian affairs is called an "unfortunate organizational development." "Neal was a dedicated and valuable member of Interior’s team," Secretary Gale Norton writes in her section of the report. "He gained respect in Indian Country, and played a pivotal role in our consultation and Task Force processes. Neal’s departure was due, in significant part, to the current litigation."

Relevant Documents:
12th Quarterly Report (February 3, 2003) | Notice of Erwin Deposition (February 5, 2003) | Order and Memorandum on Donna Erwin Deposition (February 5, 2003)

Today on Indianz.Com:
Ashcroft attorneys sanctioned by judge (2/6)

Relevant Links:
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com
Cobell v. Norton, Department of Justice - http://www.usdoj.gov/civil/cases/cobell/index.htm

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