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THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2003

A federal judge overseeing the Narragansett Tribe's smokeshop case held a closed-door hearing in Rhode Island on Wednesday.

The Providence Journal obtained a summary of the proceeding, in which U.S. District Judge William Smith urged the tribe and the state to settle their dispute over the sale of tax-free cigarettes. The paper said Smith asked the parties not to speak about the case.

Smith will hold another closed-door hearing on Monday. He halted the state's complaint against the tribe that was filed in state court.

Get the Story:
Smoke Shop Battle Moves To Courtroom (The New London Day 7/17)
Federal judge urges tribe, state to settle smoke-shop dispute (The Providence Journal 7/17)
Username: indianz@indianz.com, Password: indianz

More on the Raid:
Video | Pictures | Text: Gov. Carcieri's July 14 Press Conference | Text: Gov. Carcieri's July 15 Statement | Text: Excerpts of Narragansett Chief Sachem July 14 Press Conference

Rhode Island's Court Filings:
Motion for Temporary Restraining Order | Washington County Superior Court Complaint

Relevant Laws:
Rhode Island Indian Claims Settlement Act (US Code)

Relevant Links:
Narragansett Tribe - http://www.narragansett-tribe.org
Rhode Island Governor - http://www.governor.state.ri.us
Rhode Island Attorney General - http://www.riag.state.ri.us

Related Stories:
Tribal smoke shop feud heads to court (7/16)
Carcieri launches two probes into smokeshop raid (7/16)
Lawmakers call for court resolution of dispute (7/16)
Editorial: R.I. tribe shares blame for violence (7/16)
R.I. raids Narragansett tribal smoke shop (7/15)
Narragansett Tribe wants to head to federal court (7/15)
Analysis: Carcieri 'paternalistic' on Indians (7/15)
Column: Tribal smokeshop raid something out of 1963 (7/15)
Narragansett chief arrested in 'violent' raid (7/14)
R.I. governor promises to help Narragansett Tribe (06/04)
R.I. tribe upset over reservation checkpoint bill (05/30)
R.I. bill sets up reservation checkpoints (5/28)
R.I. tribe delays opening of tobacco shop (5/23)