State lawmaker wants to enter Tohono O'odham casino lawsuit

Wednesday, October 20, 2010  

An Arizona state lawmaker wants to intervene in a lawsuit against the Tohono O'odham Nation off-reservation casino.

Sen. Russell Pearce (R) says his interests aren't represented by other parties to the litigation. But the federal government and the tribe say he doesn't have a right to intervene.

“Even if Sen. Pearce is authorized to speak on behalf of the state of Arizona or its legislature, which he most assuredly is not, actions by Arizona's legislature are not the subject of the present litigation,” Assistant U.S. Attorney General Kristofor Swanson said in a court filing, The Yuma Sun reported.

The city of Glendale filed the lawsuit against the Bureau of Indian Affairs for approving the tribe's land-into-trust application. The BIA has not determined whether the land is eligible for gaming.

Get the Story:
Pearce tries to intervene in gaming legislation (The Yuma Sun 10/20)

Relevant Documents:
Federal Register Notice: Land Acquisitions; Tohono O'odham Nation, Arizona (August 26, 2010)
Larry Echo Hawk Letter to Tohono O'odham Nation (July 23, 2010)

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