Judge holds hearing over Gun Lake casino bid

Monday, January 26, 2009  

A federal judge holds a hearing today over the pending acquisition of 147 acres for the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan.

The tribe plans to use the land for a casino. But David Patchak, a former local official, and members of an anti-gaming group called 23 is Enough, are hoping to block the plans until the U.S. Supreme Court resolves Carcieri v. Kempthorne, a land-into-trust case.

The Interior Department said it will wait until 5pm today to decide on the land acquisition. The federal courts so far have sided with the federal government and the tribe.

The case is Patchak v. Skibine.

Get the Story:
Fate of Gun Lake casino near Wayland may be decided by judge's ruling today (The Grand Rapids Press 1/26)