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WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2003

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth heard closing arguments in Trial 1.5 of the Indian trust fund trial on Tuesday.

The Indian plaintiffs called on Lamberth to reject the Bush administration's latest plans. They want the court to adopt their methodology for an historical accounting of the Individual Indian Money trust and to order systemic changes at the Department of Interior.

The 44-day trial began May 1. Witnesses including former special trustee Paul Homan and current special trustee Ross Swimmer.

Debate on the trust fund continues today before the House Resources Committee, which is holding a hearing on settlement issues. Elouise Cobell, the lead plaintiff, is scheduled to testify, along with National Congress of American Indians President Tex Hall, Quapaw Tribe Chairman John Berrey and Council of Energy Resource Tribes executive director David Lester. Associate Deputy Secretary Jim Cason is expected to represent the Department of Interior.

A live audio feed can be found at http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/audio.htm. Click on the link for "1324 Longworth House Office Building." The hearing starts at 2 p.m.

Get the Story:
Final arguments made in Indian trust fund case (The Daily Oklahoman 7/9)
Username: indianz@indianz.com, Password: indianz Lawyer Pushes U.S. on Indian Money Issue (AP 7/8)

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
Indian Trust, Department of Interior - http://www.doi.gov/indiantrust

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