STATEMENT OF PETER KEISLER, ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR THE CIVIL DIVISION ON TODAY’S COURT OF APPEALS RULING IN THE COBELL INDIAN TRUST FUND CASE

The following press release was published by the US Department of Justice on July 18, 2003. It is reproduced in full below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FRIDAY, JULY 18, 2003 WWW.USDOJ.GOV CIV (202) 514-2007 TDD (202) 514-1888 “Today, the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in the Cobell Indian Trust Fund case reversed the district court’s contempt ruling against Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton and former Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs, Neal McCaleb. At the same time, the appeals court also ordered the lower court to vacate the appointment of Special Master Joseph Kieffer.

“We are pleased that the court of appeals took note of the significant positive steps taken by Secretary Norton to address the issues presented in this case and that the court vacated the unwarranted contempt rulings against the Secretary and Mr. McCaleb.” 03-409

Source: US Department of Justice