WINNIPEG -- Days after a federal court ruled his machinations to stay in power "scandalous," Terry Nelson is once again expected to run for chief of Roseau River First Nation.

The reserve's custom council has passed a motion to block him and a group of supporters from putting their names forward during the nomination period Feb. 28.

"I would remember you that none of us has been convicted of a crime and there is no grounds to bar us from running in the election," Nelson wrote in an e-mail to electoral officer Joyce Mazur.

The regular election date has not been set, but is expected to be in March. Chief Ken Henry Jr., who was elected after Nelson's 2011 ouster, believes he will get another term despite Nelson's return.

On Thursday, Judge James Russell ruled that Nelson tried to illegally undermine Henry's leadership and ordered him to pay the defence costs of Henry and others.

"I think in any other government if somebody's been that reprehensible, and scandalous, I don't think they allow those types of individuals to run in elections," Henry said. "We inherited a massive debt, I mean in the millions. We've done a lot to get to a place where we can get out of third-party management. We've paid down millions ... and basically cleaned up Terry's mess."