Clark County in Washington filed a new lawsuit aimed at preventing the Cowlitz Tribe from opening a casino. The lawsuit was filed in response to a new record of decision issued by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The agency agreed to place 152 acres in trust for the Cowlitz Casino Resort, the same position it took in December 2010 until a federal judge ordered a reconsideration on procedural grounds. Among other issues, the county claims the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Carcieri v. Salazar prevents the BIA from placing land in trust for tribes that weren't "under federal jurisdiction" in 1934. The Cowlitz didn't gain recognition until 2000. The lawsuit has been assigned to Judge Barbara J. Rothstein, who handled the county's first case against the casino. Get the Story:
County leads renewed fight against proposed casino (The Columbian 6/7) Federal Register Notice:
Land Acquisitions; Cowlitz Indian Tribe (May 8, 2013)
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land-into-trust ruling for Cowlitz Tribe casino (05/09)
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