A California county judge has put a temporary stop on the pending disenrollment of 130 people from the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians.

The ruling was not based on the legal claims of the group. Superior Court Judge Charles D. Field said he just needed more time to consider the case.

The group claims a Pechanga leader as an ancestor. But the tribe's enrollment committee says they don't qualify for membership.

Earlier this week, a federal judge said he didn't have jurisdiction over internal tribal matters. Pechanga officials say they expect the state judge to arrive at the same conclusion.

Get the Story:
Judge halts expulsion of 130 tribe members (The Riverside Press-Enterprise 2/5)
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Court Orders Delay in Tribe Ousters (The Los Angeles Times 2/5)
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Relevant Links:
Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians - http://www.pechanga.com

Related Stories:
Judge won't protect 130 from disenrollment (2/3)
Case tests Pechanga Tribe's right to disenroll 130 (02/02)
Adopted man protests exclusion Pechanga Tribe (01/15)
Pechanga tribe threatens to cut off newspaper (03/14)
Pechanga disenrollment campaign to continue (02/25)
Pechanga chairman surprised by his 'racist' statement (2/24)