As part of Kathryn's Indian Gaming Law course at UND School of Law this summer, law students have the opportunity to post as guest bloggers.  Today's post is by second-year law student Stephen Larson:

Various interests groups have voiced opposition to the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians’ new casino gaming operation proposal in the Jones County community of Sandersville, MS.
 
The Tribal Council approved the casino gaming operation with an 8-7 vote on June 8, 2010.  However, a petition application calling for a tribe-wide vote on the issue was presented the office of the Chief earlier in June.  If the petition is approved, the tribe would take a vote to determine whether the gaming operation would be approved. Besides the opposition from within the tribe, both the local community of Jones County and various religious organizations have voiced opposition to the proposal. However, the greatest opposition that stands in the way of the proposal moving forward is the Governor of Mississippi, Haley Barbour.  Governor Barbour has publicly asked the tribe to withdraw its proposal and has also asked Attorney General Jim Hood to take legal action to block the development.   Setting the various forms of opposition aside, the issue as to whether or not the proposal will move forward depends on the tribe’s rights under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and the state compact.

Read the Clarion-Ledger's editorial

Read more in the Laurel Leader Call, Mississippi Business Journal

Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians website