Banishment Case in Federal Court

Nine people banished from the Snoqualmie Tribe are awaiting a decision by U.S. District Court Judge James L. Roberts on whether the tribe violated their civil rights when it ousted them this past April. The ousted members charge that their banishment is an effort by some within the tribe to control the distribution of per cap payments. The tribes new casino is scheduled to open in about two months. The tribe alleges that the nine were involved in forming a shadow government. Roberts agreed to hear the case even though the tribe argued that it was an internal tribal matter and subject to federal jurisdiction. Read more here.