Tribal judge's legal opinion says recent election was flawed

The Chippewa Cree Tribe's top judge has told the Bureau of Indian Affairs that a recent secretarial election at Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation may have been improperly administered and does not reflect the wishes of all of the tribe's eligible voters.

Chief Judge Gilbert Belgarde said in a legal opinion sent to local, regional and national BIA offices that the Jan. 6 election was flawed and should be thrown out.

The election received preliminary approval from BIA field officer James Monte, but must be reviewed and upheld by the regional office in Billings. The Rocky Mountain regional office sa...