Narragansett smokeshop case moved to new court

Tuesday, March 6, 2007  

Seven members of the Narragansett Tribe of Rhode Island won a motion to transfer their criminal case to a new court, The Providence Journal reports.

The seven defendants -- including Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas -- were arrested during the state's violent raid of a tribal smokeshop on June 14, 2003. They face various charges of resisting arrest, assault and disorderly conduct.

The trial was to take place in Washington County but the tribal members were worried about getting a fair trial. The judge agreed to move the case to Providence, the state capitol, but said he was doing so to conserve judicial resources.

The seven defendants are seeking trial at the same time. The judge didn't rule on the request.

The case had been on hold pending resolution of the tribe's federal lawsuit against the state. The 1st Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the state was justified in raiding the smokeshop in order to impose state taxes on the tribe. The U.S. Supreme Court refused to review the case.

Get the Story:
Smoke-shop raid case moved to Providence court (The Providence Journal 3/6)
pwpwd

Relevant Links:
Narragansett Tribe - http://www.narragansett-tribe.org

Related Stories:
Narragansetts in court over smokeshop raid (01/24)
Column: Smokeshop raid still burns years later (1/23)
Narragansett smokeshop case delayed a week (01/15)
State revives Narragansett smokeshop case (12/19)
Narragansett chief meets with Rhode Island governor (12/13)
Narragansett Tribe faces action on smokeshop (12/12)
High court rejects state raid, land claim (11/28)
Supreme Court won't hear land-into-trust cases (10/3)
Court subjects Narragansett Tribe to all state laws (05/25)
Appeals court hears tribal-state sovereignty dispute (12/07)
Narragansett Tribe back in court over sovereignty (12/6)
Rhode Island set to appeal trust land decision (09/16)
Trust land challenge rejected by appeals court (9/14)
Appeals court agrees to rehear sovereignty case (07/11)
Tribal sovereignty must be respected, court rules (05/13)
Appeals court sides with tribe in trust land dispute (02/10)
R.I. tribe takes smokeshop case to higher court (01/27)
State's raid on tribal land sparks strong reactions (07/16)
R.I. to appeal Narragansett land-into-trust case (10/1)
Judge affirms Narragansett Tribe land-into-trust (9/30)
State's raid on tribal land sparks strong reactions (07/16)
R.I. escalates fight over tribal smoke shop (07/15)
Narragansett chief arrested in 'violent' raid (7/14)
R.I. governor promises to help Narragansett Tribe (06/04)
R.I. tribe upset over reservation checkpoint bill (05/30)
R.I. bill sets up reservation checkpoints (5/28)
R.I. tribe delays opening of tobacco shop (5/23)