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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2001

Unwilling to meet with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation any longer, two Connecticut towns say they'll see their rival in court.

Town leaders for Ledyard and North Stonington said they are ready to continue fighting their land-into-trust battle in federal court. Both leaders dropped out of talks on the issue, saying they were unhappy with a proposal the tribe set forth.

The leader of Preston is still meeting with the tribe. But while First Selectman Robert M. Congdon says he supports the lawsuit, he also says other avenues must be examined.

In either event, the three towns have asked a federal judge overseeing their lawsuit to wait a month before proceeding. The towns don't want the Department of Interior to take 165 acres of land into trust for the Pequot Tribe.

The towns succeeded in federal court but lost in the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals. A subsequent review by the Supreme Court was denied.

The tribe says it is willing to limit land-into-trust applications to 880 acres over the next 35 years. Although the towns lost the argument in court, they want "finality" on the issue.

Get the Story:
Lawyers for towns ask judge to delay suit on tribal land (The New London Day 10/25)

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