Hearing on Navajo election matter called off

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) – A Friday hearing regarding a Navajo Nation election that drastically reduced the size of the Tribal Council has been called off.

Tribal member Eddie Arthur sued elections director Edison Wauneka (wah-KNEE-kuh) last month to keep him from accepting applications for an 88-member council.

Arthur contends Wauneka is thwarting the will of Navajos who voted overwhelmingly last year to cut the council to 24 members.

Window Rock District Judge Carol Perry granted Arthur's request for a temporary restraining order to halt the election process and set the matter for hearing Friday.

But earlier this week, she granted a motion to stay the order until the tribe's high court rules on a separate election-related lawsuit that may address Arthur's concerns.