DEMING — Leaders of the Nooksack Indian Tribe have disbarred an attorney who has been fighting to prevent the tribe from kicking out members whose lineage is in dispute.
The Seattle Times says Nooksack Judge Susan Alexander is now reviewing whether Seattle attorney Gabriel Galanda received due process.
The Nooksack tribal council passed a resolution Feb. 24 disbarring Galanda and other attorneys in his law firm from tribal court and from engaging in business on tribal land. The lawyers had been representing plaintiffs facing tribal disenrollment.
Galanda calls the attack a “transparent ploy” to delay a tribal council election that has now been postponed.
The Bellingham Herald reports the tribe alleges Galanda acted unethically before the court. Galanda says he did not receive notice or reasons for his disbarment. He says he has never been disciplined in any other court.
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