United States District Judge Stephan P. Mickle ruled last week that the Seminole Indians have to be included in a lawsuit that The Isle Casino & Racing at Pompano Park and parent company, PPI Inc. filed in attempt to sidestep the Indian tribes sovereign nation status.

The folks representing the Pompano Racino opted to file suit against only Governor Charlie Crist and the Federal government, contesting a gambling compact approved in January that was according to the Sun Sentinal invalidated last week.

This tactic did not however produce the desired results, as US District Judge Stephan P. Mickle's ruling was that the Seminole tribe must be included in the lawsuit, due to the fact that any decisions made by the court would directly affect the tribe and the more than 3000 tribe members. Of course that can not and will not happen. Due to the tribe's sovereign status, they cannot be sued in any court, in any state, in the country.

This ruling was made less than a week after the gambling compact between the tribe and Crist to allow the tribe to offer Baccarat, Blackjack and Vegas style slot machines in the tribe's 7 casinos. Because those games are illegal everywhere else in the state, the Supreme Court ruled that only the legislature can approve this and make the necessary changes in the law.

Despite the Supreme Court's ruling the Seminole tribe has continued to operate business as usual. The Seminole's attorney Barry Richard stated that until the federal government, who approved the compact, changes their decision, the Seminole's will continue to conduct business as normal.







- 2008-07-16