PHOENIX (AP) – The chief judge of the White Mountain Apache wants federal help to solve a crisis that has embroiled the tribe's government.

Judge Reagan Armstrong Sr. asked the Bureau of Indian Affairs to enforce his orders suspending tribal Chairman Ronnie Lupe and postponing a tribal election, he said Friday.

“The court has to have the authority to be recognized,” he said in an interview with The Arizona Republic. “That's why I'm asking the BIA to intercede. We want them to come in and take over law enforcement. ... I've done everything in my power as a judge.”

BIA spokeswoman Nedra Darling wasn't encouraging, saying Friday that the agency doesn't get involved in internal tribal disputes.

The crisis erupted when the Tribal Council voted in December to suspend Lupe as chairman while it investigated misconduct allegation. Tribal Attorney Jim Palmer declared that the suspension vote was unlawful and Lupe stayed.

The Council then turned to the tribal courts seeking an enforcement order. Judge Armstrong issued a restraining order that said Lupe would be subject to arrest if he continued functioning as chairman. The judge also overturned a decision by the tribal Election Commission which removed two of Lupe's council critics from election ballots and issued an order postponing the election and directing police to seize voting machines.

Lupe refused, instead firing Armstrong, and police Chief Raymond Burnette refused to enforce the orders, leading to a standoff.

Lupe and tribal attorney Palmer said the judge had been fired because his rulings violated Apache law. Maridee Craig, tribal clerk, said the primary election was conducted Tuesday with eight candidates selected to vie in an April 4 general election.

Armstrong's request to BIA says “extreme measures” are necessary to reinstate a rule of law. In a Jan. 27 letter, the judge threatened Chief Burnette with a contempt citation for failure to carry out court orders, and directed him to appear at a hearing on Tuesday. “Your immediate attention would reduce the possibilities of violence between all parties involved,” he wrote.

Lupe and Burnette were unavailable Friday.

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Information from: The Arizona Republic, http://www.azcentral.com