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FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2002

A federal appeals court on Thursday ordered the Tigua Tribe of Texas to shut down its Speaking Rock Casino near El Paso.

The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a federal judge's decision that the casino be shut because it violated state prohibitions against gambling. Except for a one-sentence statement affirming U.S. District Judge Garnett T. Eisele, no written opinion was released by the court yesterday.

The tribe could appeal to the Supreme Court, or state law could be changed to legalize Indian gaming. The tribe was just in court last week arguing to keep the facility open.

Get the Order:
STATE OF TEXAS V. YSLETA DEL SUR PUEBLO NO. 01-51129 (5th Circuit January 17, 2002)

Get the Story:
Court panel upholds order to close Speaking Rock Casino (The El Paso Times 1/18)
Ruling riles legislators, businesses in El Paso (The El Paso Times 1/18)
Federal money available if casino workers laid off (The El Paso Times 1/18)
Speaking Rock Casino chronology (The El Paso Times 1/18)
Court: Tigua Indians Must Shutter Texas Casino (AP 1/18)

Relevant Links:
Speaking Rock Casino - http://www.speakingrockcasino.com/index.html
Office of Attorney General, Texas - http://www.oag.state.tx.us

Related Stories:
Tigua Tribe defends its casino in court (1/10)
Tigua Tribe fears return to poverty (12/3)
Tigua casino staying open for now (11/28)
NEW: Tigua casino gets reprieve (11/27)
Tigua casino told to shut down (11/7)
Tigua casino ordered shut down again (11/5)
Tigua Tribe wants casino kept open (10/16)
Tigua casino ordered closed (9/28)
Tigua casino lawsuit delayed (7/16)
Supreme Court lets Tigua Tribe be sued (6/5)
Tigua Tribe loses gaming appeal (11/03)
Bush v. Texas Tribes: Is it really true? (11/3)