Key points:
- Voters said yes to revoking the company’s license during last week’s election
- Amendment 104 was upheld by the federal judge
A federal judge has struck down a recent lawsuit filed by Cherokee Nation Entertainment, according to an Associated Press report.
Judge D. Price Marshall Jr. denied the company’s petition for a temporary restraining order against the amendment.
The suit was filed to temporarily block the Arkansas Government from enforcing Amendment 104, which will revoke the company’s previously approved state license to develop a casino in Pope County.
This is the latest in a series of legal challenges from Cherokee Nation Entertainment in response to push back on its casino development proposal.
The Cherokee Nation’s bid involves building a $225m casino on its property in Russellville, Arkansas, which the Nation purchased for $35m.
Last week, voters passed the ballot measure, which will take effect November 13. The Associated Press projected that the ballot measure was stuck down by Pope County voters by 13,391 to 10,668.
Good to know: But the amendment did not pass in Pope County
Local Voters in Charge campaigned to have Issue 2 presented to voters. The group told the AP in a statement, “As Issue 2 took full effect today as Amendment 104, we trust in the validity of Amendment 104, and in the judicial process for a fair outcome for the voters of Arkansas.”
Cherokee Nation Entertainment has worked for the last several years to build a casino in Pope County but has faced resistance and a series of legal setbacks in the process.
Last fall, the Arkansas Supreme Court denied the Cherokee Nation’s casino bid for its Legends Resort and Casino. The court ruled against the Tribe in a 5 to 2 decision.
