Judge hears suit over Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino

Thursday, February 17, 2011  

A federal judge will hear arguments today in a lawsuit against the Tohono O'odham Nation off-reservation casino.

The plaintiffs are the Gila River Indian Community and five of its members, the city of Glendale and some Republican lawmakers. The defendant is the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The Tohono O'odham Nation has intervened as a defendant.

At issue is the BIA's approval of the Tohono O'odham Nation's land-into-trust application. The agency says the acquisition is mandatory under a land claim settlement that passed Congress in 1986. If the BIA finalizes the application, the tribe says it will be able to use the land for gaming.

The case will be heard by Judge David G. Campbell at the federal courthouse in Phoenix.

Get the Story:
Judge to weigh in on reservation case (The Arizona Republic 2/17)
Lawsuits everywhere over Tohono O’odham land issue (The Glendale Star 2/16)

An Opinion:
Editorial: Casino issue lands, thankfully, in court (The Arizona Republic 2/16)

Related Stories:
New angle in feud over Tohono O'odham off reservation casino (2/16)
Another suit filed over Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino (2/15)
Tohono O'odham Nation sues Arizona over land annexation law (2/11)
Judge sets hearing in Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino bid (2/10)
Editorial: State unfair in Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino bid (2/7)
Tohono O'odham Nation pushes for ruling on off-reservation casino (2/3)
Arizona governor signs Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino bill (2/2)
Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino bill being sent to governor (1/27)
Bill against Tohono O'odham Nation off-reservation casino passes (1/26)
Lawmakers take up Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino bills (1/25)
Lawmakers target Tohono O'odham Nation off-reservation casino (1/21)
Hearing set in Tohono O'odham Nation off-reservation casino suit (1/20)
Blog: No fairness in Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino plan (1/19)
Tohono O'odham Nation updates plans for off-reservation casino (1/13)