The Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts is waiting to hear whether a gaming lawsuit will be heard in federal or state court.
The tribe is being sued by the state over plans for a Class II facility on its reservation on the island of Martha's Vineyard. The tribe wants the case heard in federal court but Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley (D), who is running for governor, wants to keep it in the state system. A venue change is significant because the Massachusetts Supreme Court previously ruled that the tribe must comply with state laws. The issue does not appear to have been settled by the federal courts. Judge Dennis Saylor heard arguments on the venue change but hasn't issued a decision. Get the Story: