Union Springs, New York has again failed to stop the Cayuga Nation from operating an electronic gaming facility. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the village’s petition that it overturns its July 27 order stopping the village from enforcing anti-gaming and building code laws which would have closed the Class II gaming facility.
The court confirmed an earlier ruling by Federal Judge David Hurd that stopped efforts to close the video terminal location, according to Indian Country Today.
“The Cayuga Nation is committed to protecting the businesses that support programs and benefits for Nation citizens and we will continue to oppose any attempts to infringe on the Nation’s sovereignty,” said Clint Halftown, the Nation’s federal representative.
The village can seek a hearing before the U.S. Supreme Court.
The nation opened the Class II gaming venue in 2013, which led to a cease-and-desist order. In response, the Cayugas took the village to court.
In his ruling, Hurd said the Federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act exempts the nation from the village’s local ordinances and sovereign immunity prevents the village from enforcing its criminal and civil laws against the nation.
