The California State Supreme Court reportedly heard oral arguments earlier this week as part of a lawsuit that could finally see the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians given permission to build and run a new tribal casino in Madera County.
According to a Wednesday report from the online news domain at SierraNewsOnline.com, the legal action was brought against California Governor Gavin Newsome by the United Auburn Indian Community of the Auburn Rancheria in an attempt to stop its federally-recognized rival tribe from being able to realize a casino plan that has been 20 years in the making.
Gubernatorial grievance:
The news domain reported that the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians angered many other tribes in ‘The Golden State’ after inking a 2003 deal that is to see it partner with operator Station Casinos so as to bring a casino complete with around 2,000 slots and approximately 40 gaming tables to a 305-acre site located just north of the city of Madera. Opponents were purportedly further incensed in late-August of 2012 when then-California Governor Jerry Brown inked a new gaming compact with the hopeful group that subsequently only took eight months to receive the required legislative approvals.
Ultimate obstacle:
SierraNews.com reported that a separate lawsuit that had sought to quash the proposed casino was defeated in March of 2014 after a Madera County judge ruled that the western state had been lawful in authorizing this agreement with the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians. It purportedly detailed that a similar victory in front of the seven-member California State Supreme Court would more than likely remove the final hurdle to the tribe’s plan to build and open its inaugural casino to create an estimated 1,500 new jobs.
Tribal tranquillity:
The North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians reportedly used an official communication issued in the run-up to the Wednesday hearing in Sacramento to declare that it is ‘confident’ the highest court in California will rule in favor of Governor Newsome and remove the ‘last barrier’ it faces before being allowed to start construction.
Expectant evaluation:
It was further reported that the California State Supreme Court delivered 85 written opinions last year after receiving almost 8,000 filings and could now issue a ruling for the United Auburn Indian Community of the Auburn Rancheria v Newsom lawsuit in as little as 90 days.