U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth put a temporary hold on an auction of Indian allotments that was to be held on Wednesday.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs invited sealed bids for the purchase of 26 allotments covering about 2,000 acres. Some surface and mineral rights were involved.

The plaintiffs objected to the auction on the grounds that it violated the government's trust responsibilities. The BIA didn't plan on conducting appraisals of the allotments, according to court documents.

Attorneys for Interior Secretary Gale Norton responded that the proposed temporary restraining order was outside the scope of the Cobell lawsuit. They argued before a hearing on Tuesday afternoon. Lamberth signed the order shortly afterward.

Get the Story:
Judge stops Indian land auction (AP 9/2)
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Relevant Documents:
Temporary Restraining Order | List of Auction Properties | Motion for TRO

Relevant Links:
Indian Trust, Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com

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