Latest Document: Earl E. Devaney Memo Internet Vulnerability Documents: OIG Memo 1 | OIG Memo 2 OIG Findings | BLM Report From the Indianz.Com Archive: Interior's security weaknesses not unique: NBC vulnerable to attack (January 17, 2002)

The Interior Department is hoping to overturn the latest Internet shutdown order issued by U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth.

Attorneys for Interior Secretary Gale Norton say the shutdown will cause "grave injury to the public interest." They sought, and received, a temporary stay from the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The court said it will consider a motion to halt the shutdown permanently while the appeal is considered. This would be the second time that information technology issues have gone before the D.C. Circuit.

The first time, the court vacated the shutdown order. A three-judge panel said Lamberth failed to hold a hearing to gather all the evidence. Lamberth subsequently held a 59-day trial into information technology issues this past spring. That hearing led to the latest order.

The D.C. Circuit also held that the Interior Secretary has a fiduciary duty to protect the Indian trust computer systems in order to provide an accurate accounting.

Get the Story:
For 4th Time, Judge Seeks to Shield Indian Data (The New York Times 10/25)
pwnyt

Internet Shutdown Decision:
Decision: Cobell v. Norton (October 20, 2005)

Relevant Links:
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com
Cobell v. Norton, Department of Justice - http://www.usdoj.gov/civil/cases/cobell/index.htm

Related Stories:
Battle over Cobell trust fund case heats up (10/24)
Lamberth issues new IT shutdown injunction (10/20)
Interior warned of computer security risks again (09/30)
Bush calls for new judge in Cobell v. Norton case (08/16)
BLM CIO threatened with demotion in Cobell case (08/02)
Appeals court stays Lamberth order on notices (7/29)
DOI mum on settlement figure for Cobell v. Norton (7/27)
Cobell apologizes for comments on trust bill (7/27)
Opinion: McCain, Dorgan lowball Indians on trust (7/27)
Cobell calls trust reform bill a win for Interior (7/22)
Cason takes stand in Cobell trust fund hearing (07/20)
Second expert describes hack of Interior Department (05/10)
Hacker tells court how he broke into DOI systems (5/4)
Trust fund hearing dispute causes delay in testimony (5/3)
Lamberth to hold hearing on trust fund security (5/2)
Interior ordered to trial on trust fund security (4/26)
Cobell: Ross Swimmer and the truth rarely mix (4/22)
Trust fund security again an issue in Cobell case (4/21)
Lamberth schedules hearing on computer systems (4/20)
Norton blocking information technology report (4/18)
Appeals court supports Lamberth's authority on IT (12/06)
Lamberth critical of Norton's 'bad faith' on trust fund (10/25)
NCAI 04 Wrapup: Day 2 (10/13)
Interior denies attempt to halt trust fund payments (10/05)
Swimmer: Communication with account holders on hold (10/04)
Bush administration challenges trust fund ruling (09/16)
Appeals court takes on Cobell trust fund case (9/15)
Richardson pushes Norton to protect trust fund (08/16)
Small percentage of Interior's IT systems secure (08/10)
Johnson promises 'meaningful' investigation of OST (06/21)
BIA takes advantage of Internet shutdown (05/11)
DOI's Internet connection shut down for third time (03/16)
BIA shows off information technology facility (3/2)
Anderson touts benefits of Cobell trust fund case (02/25)
Lamberth orders DOI to turn over IT reports (12/12)
DOI fares poorly on computer security report card (12/11)
Judge seeks to break impasse over trust systems (07/29)
BIA incident prompts high-level recommendation (03/27)
Court report blasts McCaleb for destroying records (01/27)
Court: McCaleb 'fabricated' e-mail story (1/24)
BIA aides circumventing court (12/16)
Martin's role in incident surfaces (12/16)
BIA aides e-mail use prompts inquiry (12/17)
McCaleb admits to e-mail 'misunderstanding' (10/23)
Burns takes on BIA problems in stride (08/23)
McCaleb gets new computer official (6/5)
Retaliation charged as BIA official jumps ship (7/25)