The Tulalip Tribes can't force the state of Washington to amend the Class III gaming compact, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on April 17.
The Tulalip Tribes sought to add gaming devices to their casinos after the state negotiated another compact with the Spokane Tribe. Tulalip argued that it was entitled to the "more favorable terms" found in the Spokane compact.
The 9th Circuit disagreed. In a unanimous decision, the court said the "more favorable terms" in the Spokane compact were tied to other provisions that Tulalip failed to address in its proposed amendment.
"The plain language of the Spokane compact
shows that the inter-tribal fund mechanism available to the
Spokane Tribe carries with it interdependent conditions and
consequences," Judge M. Margaret McKeown wrote for the majority. "Tulalip’s amendment would not match those terms."
Oral arguments took place December 11, 2014. A copy can be found on the Indianz.Com SoundCloud.
Turtle Talk has posted materials from the case, Tulalip Tribes v. Washington.
Get the Story:
Tulalip Tribes lose bid for more video gambling terminals
(The Everett Herald 4/27)
9th Circuit Decision:
Tulalip Tribes v. Washington (April 17, 2015)