A judge in Michigan has barred all members of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians from sitting on the jury in a lawsuit against former chairman Bernard Bouschor.

The tribe sued Bouschor to recover $2.66 million that he paid to his aides after he lost an election. He filed a motion to disqualify all tribal members from the case, citing their inability to hear the case without bias.

Judge Charles Johnson agreed and said tribal members shouldn't be in the jury pool because of their "financial interest in this litigation," according to the order that was posted on Turtle Talk.

The trial is scheduled to begin October 13.

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Former tribal chairman sways judge (Indian Country Today 10/6)