The shuttered Bay Mills Indian Community casino in Vanderbilt, Michigan. Photo © Bay Mills News
The U.S. Supreme Court heard Michigan v. Bay Mills Indian Community, an Indian gaming case, on Monday:
Even those who live there would probably describe Vanderbilt as a "quiet" or "sleepy" type of community. Nestled near the Pigeon River Country of Michigan, the geography of the community is some of the prettiest in Michigan but outside of that, as far as communities go, Vanderbilt is rather "non-descript." Monday, however, it found itself front and center in a debate before the U.S. Supreme Court as representatives of the Bay Mills Tribe and state of Michigan argued over the right of the tribe to establish a casino there. While no one denies the rights of Native Americans to establish casinos on sovereign tribal properties, what makes Vanderbilt different is that the site on which the casino was constructed, before being shut down by state officials, was purchased by the tribe using proceeds from a land settlement. At issue is whether "off-reservation" properties, if purchased by tribes, makes the property eligible for casino development.Get the Story:
Editorial: U.S. casino debate began in region (The Alpena News 12/6) Supreme Court Documents:
Oral Argument Transcript | Order List | Docket Sheet No. 12-515 6th Circuit Decision:
Michigan v. Bay Mills Indian Community (August 15, 2012) Related Stories:
Turtle Talk: Commentary on arguments in Bay Mills casino case (12/3)
Supreme Court ruling in Bay Mills casino suit expected in spring (12/3)
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