Members of the Catawba Nation of South Carolina are asking a state judge to intervene in the tribe's ongoing leadership dispute.

The members want the judge to recognize the results of a 2002 election. But the tribe's lawyer said the election was invalid because the tribe has yet to adopt a constitution since being federally recognized over a decade ago.

The request to intervene came nearly a year to the day since the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that state courts have jurisdiction over internal tribal matters because the tribe doesn't have its own court -- something that would be created with the adoption of a constitution.

Get the Story:
Attorney asks judge to force new leaders (AP 5/27)
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Court Decision:
Wade v. Blue (May 26, 2004)

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