The city council in Glendale, Arizona, has filed an appeal in its Tohono O'odham Nation off-reservation casino case.

Judge David Campbell ruled that the Bureau of Indian Affairs can place 54 acres in trust for the tribe. He said the city and the Gila River Indian Community failed to show how the acquisition was "arbitrary and capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law."

The city council agreed to file an appeal during an executive session. The papers were apparently filed March 15 but the council didn't ratify its decision until a public meeting on Tuesday.

"Shame, shame, shame on you council members who went behind closed doors and appealed this court case without notifying the public and without allowing every councilmember to vote on it," a local Tea Party member said in response, The Glendale Star reported. Shame on you."

The city has reportedly spent $1.3 million on the lawsuit so far.

Get the Story:
City Council votes to appeal judge’s decision on tribal land (The Glendale Star 3/24)
Mayor discusses budget, Coyotes and casino (The Glendale Star 3/24)

District Court Decision:
Gila River Indian Community v. DOI (March 3, 2011)

Related Stories:
Blog: City spends $1.3M to fight Tohono O'odham Nation casino (3/16)
Some residents urge city to drop Tohono O'odham casino appeal (3/15)
Tohono O'odham Nation awaits decision on off-reservation casino (3/14)
Editorial: Ruling on off-reservation casino ignores consequences (3/7)
Judge rejects lawsuit on Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino (3/4)
Another tribe opposes Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino (2/24)
Tribal gaming group remains neutral in off-reservation debate (2/23)
Judge vows ruling on Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino (2/18)
Judge hears suit over Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino (2/17)
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)