Trust fund judge schedules hearing

FROM THE ARCHIVE

Facebook Twitter Email
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2002

The federal judge overseeing the Indian trust fund lawsuit has scheduled a hearing tomorrow to address attempts by the Bush administration to limit questioning of top officials.

Government attorneys are trying to delay depositions of acting Special Trustee Donna Erwin and Office of Historical Trust Accounting Director Bert T. Edwards. They want to wait until after January 6, 2003, because they say both officials are working on a plan to reform the Individual Indian Money (IIM) trust.

January 6 is the date the Department of Interior must submit its plan in court.

Attorneys representing 500,000 Indian account holders oppose the government's request want to question both officials prior to the January deadline. Supporting them is special master-monitor Joseph S. Kieffer III, who issued a report today recommending that depositions take place as soon as possible.

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth will listen to arguments tomorrow at 3 p.m. It is now known if he will rule at that time.

Prior to the hearing, special master Alan Balaran will be questioning deputy assistant secretary Aurene Martin about her knowledge of the destruction of e-mails by her boss Neal McCaleb. That deposition is to start at 10 a.m.

Relevant Documents:
Special Master-Monitor Opinion on Erwin and Edwards (12/12)

Relevant Links:
Indian Trust, Department of Interior - http://www.doi.gov/indiantrust
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com
Cobell v. Norton, Department of Justice - http://www.usdoj.gov/civil/cases/cobell/index.htm
Trust Reform, NCAI - http://www.ncai.org/main/pages/
issues/other_issues/trust_reform.asp