Facebook Twitter Email
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2002

The Bush administration is appealing a federal judge's decision that found Secretary of Interior Gale Norton in contempt for her handling of the Indian trust fund.

Department of Justice attorneys filed a one-page notice of appeal after hours last night. The notice doesn't state on what grounds the decision will be challenged.

"Any comment I would make about the filing would be in the filing," said Department of Interior spokesperson Dan DuBray, who declined to elaborate.

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth on September 17 found Norton and Indian affairs aide Neal McCaleb in contempt for misleading his court about efforts to fix the broken trust. He said the Bush officials were unfit to be trustee-delegates.

Norton subsequently said she would fight the ruling. She said it was based on events that didn't happen under her watch.

"We believe it is appropriate to seek an appeal," she said on September 17, "and so we will be exploring the opportunities for doing so."

The move marks the second time the federal government has challenged Lamberth. After he ordered the Interior to account for funds owed to 500,000 American Indians, the Clinton administration appealed.

In February 2001, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously affirmed Lamberth. Norton later decided not to ask the Supreme Court to review the case.

It is not clear whether the appeal will delay the next phase of the Cobell lawsuit, and DuBray would not speculate. By January 6, the Interior and the plaintiffs are submitting plans to administer the Individual Indian Money (IIM) trust.

The department is under intense pressure to develop the plan without incurring the wrath of tribal leaders. The last time Norton unveiled a trust reform proposal, it was unanimously opposed in Indian Country.

Attorneys representing the Indian account holders received the notice this morning. Keith Harper of the Native American Rights Fund said he was not surprised, given the government's record in the six-year litigation.

In February 1999, Lamberth held the Clinton administration in contempt for failing to produce records associated with the case. He fined then-Secretary of Interior Bruce Babbitt, Secretary of Treasury Paul Rubin and Indian affairs assistant secretary Kevin Gover more than $600,000, an amount that was paid by taxpayers.

Relevant Documents:
Notice of Appeal (November 18, 2002)

Get the Contempt Decision:
Contempt Findings (September 17, 2002) | Contempt Order (September 17, 2002

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
Trust Reform, NCAI - http://www.ncai.org/main/pages/
issues/other_issues/trust_reform.asp

Related Stories:
Norton again blames Cobell (11/18)
Interior blasted for ignoring court (11/14)
Fees awarded in trust fund litigation (11/14)
Cobell plans subject of debate (11/13)
Trust extinguishment bill criticized (11/13)
Norton submits new court report (11/11)
DOI report to court was changed (11/7)
Norton proposes divide and conquer (11/6)
Bush sets up tribal roadblocks (11/5)
Norton policy terminates rights (11/4)
Court probes Norton's trust fund report (10/11)
Court moves BIA intimidation case forward (10/04)
Judge rejects Norton's 'absurd' accounting claim (9/23)
Norton's witness on TAAMS does damage (09/23)
Bush facing heightened contempt probes (09/19)
Norton 'unfit' to manage Indian trust (9/18)