A federal judge in Washington has ordered an ethics probe of six Justice Department attorneys in a lawsuit over billions of dollars claimed to be due Native Americans.

"A federal judge this week ordered a court ethics panel to investigate six Justice Department attorneys for their conduct in a landmark class-action suit against the government that seeks billions of dollars and was filed on behalf of more than 300,000 Native Americans."

"In a stinging 20-page opinion, U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth also blocked the Interior and Justice departments from continuing to send mass mailings to the Indian plaintiffs that include a provision that would terminate the Indians' rights to claim damages, even as the lawsuit continues."

"Lamberth has already held three Cabinet officials in contempt of court for their failures in Indian trust fund reform, including Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton."

We read a great article a few months ago about the lawyer for the Native Americans. We'll try to find it and post the link to it.