The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments on Friday in the latest Cobell v. Norton dispute.

A panel of three judges considered a broad historical accounting and trust reform injunction that U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth imposed on the Interior Department. The Bush administration appealed the decision.

According to the Associated Press and the Cobell plaintiffs, both parties agreed that the decision could be dropped. But the two sides differ on the steps that should come next -- the plaintiffs say a true historical accounting is impossible while the administration says Interior should be allowed to complete its scaled-back plan.

It is not known when a decision will be issued. A second Cobell hearing, on October 14, is slated to consider contempt proceedings for destruction of e-mails. A third appeal, over notices that Lamberth ordered Interior to send to beneficiaries, is pending.

Get the Story:
Interior asks appeals to rescind Indian trust order (AP 9/18)
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Relevant Links:
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com
Office of Special Trustee - http://www.ost.doi.gov
Cobell v. Norton, Department of Justice - http://www.usdoj.gov/civil/cases/cobell/index.htm

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