United States Ninth Circuit

Decision of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, finding that the Temporary Assistance For Needy Families Program did not qualify as a program "for the benefit of Indians because of their status as "Indians" within the meaning of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, is entitled to substantial deference as an agency's interpretation of statute and will not be disturbed by the court.

Appellate Information

• Argued Array
• Decided 04/08/2002
• Published 04/08/2002

Judges

• Before SCHROEDER, Chief Judge, B. FLETCHER, TROTT, RYMER, THOMAS, GRABER, McKEOWN, McLANE WARDLAW, GOULD, BERZON, and CLIFTON, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Ninth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Thomas W. Christie, Navajo Nation Department of Justice, Window Rock, Navajo Nation, AZ, for the plaintiff-appellant.


• For Appellees:
  
• Barbara C. Biddle, John S. Koppel, Department of Justice, Civil Division, Washington, D.C., for the defendant-appellee.