The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals has set the briefing schedule for challenges to the $3.4 billion settlement to the Indian trust fund lawsuit.

Briefs are due October 17 and December 16, The Apache Moccasin reported. The Cobell plaintiffs and the Obama administration must respond by January 6, 2012.

The schedule indicates the settlement won't be resolved until spring 2012 at the earlier. That means payments won't definitely go out by the holidays as had been anticipated.

Kimberly Craven, a member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, has filed a timely appeal. She has been a vocal critic of the settlement although she did not opt out of it.

Another appeal was filed by Ortecia Ford and Donnelly Villegas, who are members of the Spokane Tribe of Washington. The Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma also tried to challenge the settlement on behalf of its members but was rejected.

Get the Story:
Landmark federal lawsuit: $3.4 billion Indian Trust Fund case appealed (The Apache Moccasin 9/28)

Relevant Documents:
Order Granting Final Approval To Settlement | Exhibit A and Exhibit B

Related Stories:
Cobell settlement payments face delay despite speedy appeal (09/15)
Navajo leader criticizes appeals over $3.4B Cobell settlement (9/13)
Letter: Selfish appeal delays $3.4B settlement for Cobell case (9/13)
Appeals delay distribution of $3.4B settlement to Cobell case (9/7)
Appeals planned for $3.4B settlement to Indian trust fund case (9/2)
Cobell trust beneficiaries in Utah urged to look out for scams (8/30)
Allottee group urges Navajo landowners to file claims for Cobell (08/02)
Claim forms due September 16 for $3.4B trust fund settlement (8/1)
Jodi Rave: Milestone as judge approves $3.4B Cobell settlement (07/25)
Opinion: Cobell settlement closes an unsavory chapter in history (07/15)
Interview with attorney Elliott Levitas about Cobell settlement (7/13)
Transcript posted from fairness hearing for Cobell trust fund case (7/7)
Ken Salazar: Cobell settlement a big step toward trust reform (06/28)
Letter: Attorneys take excessive fees in trust fund settlement (6/28)
Editorial: Victory with $3.4B settlement of Indian trust lawsuit (6/27)
WPR: Lac du Flambeau chair hopes BIA improves trust system (6/27)
Upwards of 30K in Arizona to share in $3.4B Cobell settlement (6/27)
In These Times: Fractionation a big issue in Cobell settlement (6/27)
Ben Carnes: Cobell settlement a knife in Indian people's backs (6/22)
Blog: Crime of the century with Indian trust fund management (6/22)
Judge approves $3.4B settlement in Cobell trust fund lawsuit (6/21)
Schedule for fairness hearing for Cobell trust fund settlement (6/20)
Quapaw Tribe tries to opt out of Cobell trust fund settlement (6/20)
Judge to hold fairness hearing for Cobell trust fund settlement (6/17)
Jerilyn DeCoteau: Cobell settlement just doesn't feel right (6/6)
Fairness hearing in Cobell settlement scheduled for June 20 (5/26)