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Judge Wants Feds Involved in NY Tribal Casino Case

NEW YORK -- As reported by the New York Newsday: "A federal judge yesterday urged the U.S. Attorney's Office to take part in a lawsuit that will determine whether the Shinnecock Indians will be allowed to open a casino on their Hampton Bays property, and gave their office 10 days to reconsider removing themselves from the case.

"U.S. District Judge Thomas Platt has said that he will decide whether the Shinnecocks have a sovereign right to run a casino on their land - a decision usually made by the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs. But he said it's important that the federal government takes part in the case as an 'involuntary plaintiff.'

"…If Platt bypasses the Bureau of Indian Affairs and decides for himself whether the Shinnecocks can open a casino, that decision will have ramifications for dozens of other tribes across the country, many of whom have been waiting years for the BIA to decide whether they should be federally recognized, a prerequisite to conduct gaming.

"…Lawyers for the Shinnecock, Southampton Town and the state all say that they would welcome the U.S. government's participation in the case…"

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