About the Interior Board of Indian Appeals

The Interior Board of Indian Appeals (IBIA) is an appellate review body. Its administrative judges decide appeals from a wide array of decisions rendered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) within the Department of the Interior. Examples include BIA decisions regarding tribal government disputes, economic development matters, treaty rights, various types of leases and rights of way on Indian lands, taking land into trust, trespass actions, and land sales, exchanges, and encumbrances.

IBIA also decides appeals from Indian probate cases adjudicated by administrative law judges and Indian probate judges in OHA's Probate Hearings Division. IBIA also decides appeals from decisions rendered by agency officials and administrative law judges in cases under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.

IBIA is headed by a Chief Administrative Judge. Its decisions are final for the Department and may be appealed to the United States district courts.

Contact Information

Interior Board of Indian Appeals
Office of Hearings and Appeals
U.S. Department of the Interior
801 N. Quincy Street, Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22203

703-235-3816 (voice)
703-235-3199 (facsimile)

Personnel

Steven K. Linscheid, Chief Administrative Judge
Debora G. Luther, Administrative Judge
Margo M.L. Ellis, Legal Assistant

Resources

Finding IBIA Decisions
Indian Self-Determination Act
Procedural Regulations for Cases before the Interior Board of Indian Appeals
IBIA Jurisdiction
FAQs on Practice before IBIA
Articles about IBIA
Finding Pre-IBIA Decisions