Copyright © 2001 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A federal judge today, Friday, November 30, 2001, postponed for one week a contempt trial for Interior Secretary Gale Norton after her government attorneys complained they could not be prepared to meet the judge's original December 3 starting date.

The trial is now scheduled to begin on December 10 in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.

U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth reconfirmed his intention to go ahead with the contempt proceedings for Norton, saying that he was allowing government lawyers an extra week in order to block any later claim that they had not been given adequate time to prepare for Norton's defense.

Noting that he had urged Norton last month to "throw herself on the mercy of the court", Lamberth said, "The Secretary has decided to contest everything and throw down the gauntlet." The judge said he would consider allowing additional issues to be raised in the contempt trial, adding, "I can give [the government] their worst nightmare."

Lamberth also said that after the contempt trial, he will take up a request by Indian plaintiffs that he place the Individual Indian Monies (IIM) trust in the hands of a court-appointed receiver. Being held in contempt would substantially weaken Norton's attempt to keep control of the trust.

The judge also scheduled a closed hearing on Monday, December 3, to consider issues involving serious weaknesses in computer security for the trust's accounting data. He indicated he is likely to unseal documents next week that document Interior's failures to protect the data.

For media inquiries contact Philip Smith, by phone: 202-661-6350, or send e-mail to: psmith@policyimpact.com.