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THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2002

The Department of Interior and the Cobell plaintiffs today filed their responses to a proposed extension of court monitor Joseph S. Kieffer's term.

Attorneys for Secretary of Interior Gale Norton are challenging Kieffer's continued oversight. In a court filing, they said they never expected his reports on the status of trust reform would be used against the government.

Attorneys representing 300,000 Indian beneficiaries said they supported Kieffer's role. They said his reports have exposed the sham of reform and show why a receiver must be appointed to take over the Individual Indian Money (IIM) trust.

Kieffer's term officially expires April 16. U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth wants him to stay on for at least another year.

In a related development, special master Alan Balaran today released his second investigative report into the management of trust records. It follows one he released last fall which charged the Office of the Special Trustee cannot prove it has made progress.

Related Documents:
Support for Kieffer (4/11) | Balaran Report (4/11)

Relevant Links:
Indian Trust, Department of Interior - http://www.doi.gov/indiantrust
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com
Trust Reform, NCAI - http://130.94.214.68/main/pages/
issues/other_issues/trust_reform.asp

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