Michigan has been challenged by the Supreme
Court as to whether or not a Bay Mills Tribe-operated casino has endangered the
tribe’s sovereignty.
The Bay Mills tribe purchased land in
Vanderbilt and opened a casino without first receiving approval from the
federal government. Tribal casinos may exist on tribal owned land, as long as
the land is first approved by the federal government, which the Bay Mills tribe
failed to do.
Numerous states have an interest in the case
due to the fact that a ruling could possibly limit the opening of new
casinos.
The tribe’s argument was that the opening of
the casino does not threaten the state’s sovereignty and that the tribe’s basic
sovereignty would not allow the state to take action against the casino’s
opening.
The tribe’s attorney, Neal Katyal, argued
that the tribe could be subject to penalties for operating a casino that is
considered illegal if the Supreme Court did not make a ruling in favor of the
tribe.