Bob Shiles
Staff writer
PEMBROKE — Lumbee Tribal Chairman Paul Brooks says the Supreme Court’s ruling that the tribal chairman has full authority to oversee operations of the Office of Veterans Affairs demonstrates that the “Supreme Court … is cognitive of how the constitution works.”
The Supreme Court on Monday unanimously ruled that the tribal chairman, and not the Lumbee Tribal Council, has full authority to oversee the Office off Veterans Affairs and may both choose and dismiss the office’s director.
The court’s ruling results from a petition filed with the tribe’s highest court on June 29. The petition was filed after Brooks dismissed Harold Hunt, the director of the tribe’s Veterans Affairs Office.
According to the court ruling written by Chief Justice Gary Locklear, a temporary restraining order was issued preventing Brooks from removing director. That order was dissolved on July 9 after “the court was persuaded that no immediate or irreparable harm would occur if the chairman dismissed and/or removed the director.”
After the restraining order was dissolved, Brooks fired the director.
The court on Monday heard arguments from the council, represented by attorney Jessica Scott, that the Veterans Affairs Office and director’s position were created over the years by acts of the council, therefore only the Tribal Council could dismiss or remove the director. The chairman, represented by attorney Ron Sutton, argued that only the executive branch can hire and fire and must have control over personnel.
“This matter revisits the continuing, but highly unnecessary, public struggle between the executive and legislative branches of tribal government for control of Lumbee Tribe and the operations thereof,” Locklear said in his decision.
Brooks said that Rory Eddings has been appointed as the new director for the Office of Veterans Affairs.
“We’re proud of the way the department works with our veterans and addresses their needs,” Brooks said.
Reach staff writer Bob Shiles at 910-272-6117 of bshiles@heartlandpublications.com.
@Geronimo 8 out 10 Native American " Indians " in the U.S. Today are mixed with european or somethin else Today 2012 DUHHH The Lumbee Nation are not only listed in top 10 largest " Indian " tribe we are the largest " east of the Mississippi "Ahhhhhhhh...
since the 1600 we have intermarried with Europeans & we are the bloodlines to 4 Croatan ,Tuscarora,Cheraw & Cherokee tribes, since the the 1600's have intermarried Black, Jew, Hispanic, Asian etc.etc...do you issues with that ?
LOL
BTW Geronimo the Federal Rez " Indian " ID has the Bloodline & Percentage on it...1/4 , 3/16
When the Lumbee get Fed you ask to see ^
wow
did ya know Arlinda Locklear is like U.S. attorney for all Natives Americans ? Geronimo lol
& did another Lumbee lady ( I can't think of her name ? but she's from PROSPECT ...LOOK IT UP.
TEACHES NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES AT HARVARD ?
& that's just two of our Lumbee Ladies, I can go on & on about us Lum's but that's lame. Geronimo
BTW HAVE U ever met any "indians" before ? LOL ever been on the Rez...Geronimo ?