Five members of the Makah Nation of Washington are seeking to delay their federal trial on charges that they illegally hunted a gray whale.
The tribal members want more time to prepare their case, attorneys said. If their motion is granted, the trial could be pushed back until spring 2008.
The five also face charges in tribal court but the tribe has to bring in a new prosecutor due to ties with some of the defendants. Council member Micah McCarty said a plea deal is possible.
The tribe has a treaty right to hunt whale. But the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals said the tribe has to seek a federal permit under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The process is still ongoing.
Get the Story:Trial of whalers may be postponed (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer 11/10)
Trial of Makah whale hunters may be postponed (The Peninsula Daily News 11/11) Relevant Documents:
Tribal Council Statement | Makah Tribal Whale Hunt | Marine Mammal Protection Act Court Decisions:
Anderson v. Evans (June 7, 2004) | Anderson v. Evans (December 20, 2002) Relevant Links:
Makah Nation - http://www.makah.com Related Stories:
Editorial: Makah hunters to pay price for illegal hunt (10/8)
Rogue Makah hunters indicted on federal charges (10/5)
Opinion: Makah Nation has treaty right to hunt (10/5)
Federal probe into Makah whale hunt ongoing (09/18)
Editorial: Makah Nation must punish rogue hunters (9/14)
Letters: Readers discuss illegal Makah whale hunt (9/14)
Makah leaders hopeful after Washington meetings (9/13)
Column: Makah Nation shouldn't hunt whales (9/13)
Makah Nation hires former Slade Gorton aide (9/12)
Editorial: Illegal hunt may be last for Makah Nation (9/12)
Unauthorized hunt likely to delay action on permit (9/11)
Editorial: Makah Nation reacts swiftly to rogue hunt (9/11)
Editorial: Illegal whale hunters must be punished (9/11)
Makah Nation blasts unauthorized whale hunt (9/10)
Makah Nation to discuss rogue hunt on Capitol Hill (9/10)
Russian Natives, Makah Nation share culture, whales (10/25)
Appeals court shoots down Makah whaling case (06/08)
Makah Nation marks fifth year since first whale hunt (05/17)
Tribes and U.S. seek review of whale hunt ruling (03/14)
Opinion: Makah Nation whale hunt is not legal (02/12)
Makah whale hunt faces another review (12/23)
Federal judge shoots down treaty challenge (08/09)
U.S. pushes for whaling rights (6/10)
Whale hunt a go for Makah Nation (7/16)
Makah whale hunt faces threat (3/30)
Friends, foes turn out for Makah hearing (2/2)
Makah whale hunt up for review (01/16)
Court rules on Makah whaling (6/12)
Makah ruling overturned (6/9)
Metcalf's Indian history (6/9)
Metcalf pleased with ruling (6/9)
