A conservative legal group that has challenged protections for sacred sites is urging a Montana county to take a Native voting rights case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Mountain States Legal Foundation, a former employer of Interior Secretary Gale Norton, represented Blaine County in the case. Two courts have found that the county's voting system violated the rights of Native Americans on the Fort Belknap Reservation.

The county was forced to change its at-large system due to the rulings. As a result, for the first time in history, Dolores Plumage, an Indian, was elected to the county commission.

But Plumage is outnumbered by the two other commissioners who are leaning towards an appeal. They will meet Friday to vote on the case.

Rebecca Watson, one of Norton's assistant secretaries, helped defend the county in the case.

Get the Story:
Blaine County to decide Friday if it will take voting rights appeal to high court (The Great Falls Tribune 10/21)

Get the Decision:
US v. BLAINE COUNTY (April 7, 2004)

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