Leaders of two Michigan tribes said they are happy that the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a challenge to their gaming compacts.

The court refused to entertain an appeal that questioned the legality of four compacts approved by state lawmakers in 1988. The tribes affected are the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi, the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians and the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians.

"The tribes are pleased that yet another court has made a decision supporting the process by which these inter-governmental agreements were ratified, " said Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi Tribal Chairperson Laura Spurr. "We are pleased the court has preserved the right of the tribes to create jobs and economic development for the entire community."

The appeal was sought by Taxpayers of Michigan Against Casinos (TOMAC), a group of non-Indians that is fighting casinos and land-into-trust decisions throughout the state. The group hasn't been able to stop any projects but has delayed the process for some tribes.

John Miller, chairman of the Pokagon Tribe, said groups like TOMAC are backed by people within the casino industry that don't want to see tribes succeed. He said the Supreme Court's decision yesterday will force the opposition to "call off their legal hired guns and allow the tribes to move forward."

The Michigan Supreme Court last August [PDF] rejected TOMAC's challenge to the legislative approval of the compacts. TOMAC has another lawsuit challenging the governor's ability to amend the compacts without legislative action.

Get the Story:
Tribes happy with justices' casino decision (The Traverse City Record-Eagle 2/23)
Supreme Court won't hear group's challenge of Michigan compacts (AP 2/22)