The federal judge handling the Indian trust fund case ordered the Interior Department on Thursday to turn over e-mails of top officials, including Secretary Gale Norton, associate deputy secretary Jim Cason and former deputy secretary J. Steven Griles.

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth gave Interior a schedule to turn over the documents. He said the e-mails were necessary as part of the ongoing evidentiary hearing into the security of the department's computer systems.

The e-mails at issue are in the custody of ZANTAZ [company site], a firm hired to preserve the department's electronic communications. The firm had been hired after former assistant secretary Neal McCaleb admitted he destroyed his e-mails in potential violation of court orders and internal policy.

Lamberth has said he is still considering whether to hold McCaleb in contempt of court.

Court Order:
Cobell v. Norton (May 26, 2005)

Relevant Links:
Indian Trust, Department of Interior - http://www.doi.gov/indiantrust
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com
Cobell v. Norton, Department of Justice - http://www.usdoj.gov/civil/cases/cobell/index.htm
Trust Reform, NCAI - http://www.ncai.org/main/pages/
issues/other_issues/trust_reform.asp

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