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APRIL 2, 2001

In response to a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and three towns, a federal judge on Friday ruled he will watch over the federal recognition petitions of the Eastern Pequot Tribe and the Paucatuck Eastern Pequot Tribe, both of Connecticut.

US District Court Judge Alfred V. Covello set ordered the Bureau of Indian Affairs to release all documents related to the tribes to the state and towns within five weeks. The state and the towns have been seeking a number of documents from the BIA and say they need them in order to comment properly on the tribes' petitions.

He also ordered the BIA to provide technical assistance to them. The state and the towns say the BIA hasn't been able to provide them with the help they need.

Then, the state will have 90 days to comment and the tribes will have 30 days to respond. The BIA will then make a decision within 30 days and then 60 days to publish a final determination.

The entire process would be complete by the end of the year. The state and the towns still could challenge the determination, however.

Covello also ordered the state to release to the tribes the documents they have been seeking.

Get the Story:
Judge orders ruling on local tribes' recognition petitions by year's end (The New London Day 3/31)