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NOVEMBER 29, 2000

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal on Tuesday said he will join three towns in asking the Supreme Court to appeal a decision favoring the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe.

The towns had already announced their intention to appeal earlier this month. Along with Blumenthal, they lost their case in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in September.

The state and the towns believe the Department of Interior can't add 165 acres of land to the tribe's reservation because the 1983 Mashantucket Pequot Settlement Act prohibits them from doing so. But the court disagreed and ruled the restriction only applied to land bought with a $900,000 settlement fund, money which ran out years ago.

Since the tribe is now wealthy, the towns and the state say they shouldn't be allowed to expand their reservation.

Get the Ruling:
Connecticut v. Babbitt (Second Circuit Court of Appeals. No. 99-6042. September 2000)

Get the Story:
Blumenthal joins 3 towns in appeal to Supreme Court (The New London Day 11/29)

Related Stories;
Towns to appeal Pequot ruling (Tribal Law 11/07)
Pequot law won't be changed (Tribal Law 10/06)
Towns want 'sloppy' legislation fixed (Tribal Law 09/27)
Does a Pequot empire await? (Tribal Law 9/27)
Court rules against anti-Pequot towns (Tribal Law 9/26)
Are Pequots a campaign issue? (The Talking Circle 09/22)
Lieberman wants BIA to start again (Tribal Law 09/05)
Lieberman's record resurfaces (The Talking Circle 08/22)
Towns optimistic about Pequot suit (Tribal Law 06/15)