Spirit Lake leaders seek dismissal of ousted chairman's lawsuit

Friday, September 6, 2013  

Leaders of the Spirit Lake Nation of North Dakota are asking a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by ousted chairman Roger Yankton.

Yankton sued his fellow council members after they went to tribal court to oust him from his post. He claims a restraining order that bars him from tribal offices amounts to an illegal detention.

But the council members say he has failed to exhaust his tribal remedies. They also argue that the federal court lacks jurisdiction over the tribe's internal matters.

The leadership dispute is pending before the Northern Plains Intertribal Court of Appeals.

Get the Story:
Spirit Lake chairman dispute continues (The Grand Forks Herald 9/6)

Spirit Lake Nation court blocks disputed chairman from offices (08/01)