An attorney for more than 130 former members of the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians said the group will continue to fight its case in the state courts.

Lead attorney Jon Velie of Oklahoma filed two cases on behalf of the ousted members. The first one was dismissed yesterday by a state appeals court. The second one is still pending.

Velie argues that Public Law 280 gives authority to state courts to interpret tribal laws. He sued individual tribal members responsible for making enrollment decisions rather than suing the tribe itself.

Get the Story:
Tribe wins court ruling (The Riverside Press-Enterprise 8/9)
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Today on Indianz.Com:
Disenrollment suit dismissed in California (8/9)

Get the Decision:
Lamere v. Super. Ct. of Riverside (August 8, 2005)

Relevant Links:
Public Law 280 Resources - http://www.tribal-institute.org/lists/pl280.htm
Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians - http://www.pechanga.com
Pechanga Tribal Disenrollment - http://www.pechanga.info
Bureau-of-Indian-Affairs.com, Disenrollment site - http://www.bureau-of-indian-affairs.com

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