Posted on 07/02/2002 3:42:21 PM PDT by chance33_98
Alabama-Coushatta Casino Must Close 06-26-2002
A Federal Judge ruled on Tuesday that the Alabama-Coushatta Casino near Livingston must close within the next thiry days to comply with the 1987 Native American Restoration Act.
A spokesperson for the Indian Tribe says the judge's decision to close the casino will hurt not only the tribe but its individual members, its non-Indian employees, the local community, and the citizens of Texas.
Kevin Battise also called the Native American Restoration Act a "bad deal the tribe was forced into." But U.S. District Judge John Hannah, Jr. sided with Texas Attorney General John Coryn. He said it was the tribe's decision to make such a deal.
Hannah says under that act, the tribe agreed that in return for federal recognition they would not sponsor any gambling activities that were otherwise illegal in the state of Texas.
The tribe's attorney says they will appeal this latest decision.
The case has already been all through the courts, including the US Supreme Court, which denied them a stay. The Act which recognized them as a tribe made them follow state gambling laws. It may have been a bad deal for the tribe, but it's the deal they agreed to.
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