Days after taking office, the new leadership of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana fired a tribal court judge and five attorneys and is moving to regain control of its law enforcement department.

The tribal council fired Judge T.J. Davis for "neglect of duty," The Lake Charles American Press reported. Davis was supposed to be hearing a lawsuit over a secret decision to turn law enforcement duties over to the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The council has since rescinded the agreement with the BIA.

Also fired were attorneys Tom Lorenzi, Kent Hance, Joe Kendall, Daniel Rey-Bear and Hugh Cunningham. Lorenzi was paid $1.1 million over the last year and Hance was paid nearly $1.3 million over the last year, the paper reported.

The tribe recently elected a new chairman, former police chief Kevin Sickey, and two new council members. Former chairman Lovelin Poncho, who supported disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, didn't run for re-election. William Worfel, another Abramoff supporter, remains on the council and is challenging the recent election.

Get the Story:
Coushatta tribe fires judge, lawyers (AP 6/26)
Coushatta Tribal Council fires judge, attorneys (The Lake Charles American Press 6/26)

Relevant Links:
Coushatta Tribe - http://www.coushattatribela.org

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