Opinion ID: 733385
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Indian Gaming in New Mexico

Text: 6 Since IGRA's passage in 1988, various Indian tribes in New Mexico have sought to enter into class III gaming compacts with the state. Governor Bruce King appointed a task force in 1990 to negotiate gaming compacts with two tribes, the Pueblo of Sandia and the Mescalero Apache tribes. In 1991, after reaching some form of agreement permitting limited class III gaming, the task force presented the compacts to Governor King for signature, but he refused to sign them. The Pueblo of Sandia and the Mescalero then filed suit against the Governor and the State, seeking to require them to negotiate compacts in good faith, as required at that time by IGRA. See § 2710(d)(7). 4 Governor King apparently refused to negotiate with any tribes during the remainder of his term as Governor. 7 All but two of the Tribes commenced some form of class III gaming without Tribal-State compacts. The Pueblo of Acoma began class III gaming in 1993. Pueblo of Acoma Answers to Defs.' First Set of Interrogs., Appellants' App. Vol. V at A1617. The Pueblo of Isleta began such gaming in 1990, Pueblo of Isleta's Resps. to Defs.' First Set of Interrogs., id. at A1621; the Pueblo of Pojoaque began in 1992, Pl.'s Pojoaque Pueblo, Resp. to First Set of Interrogs., id. at A1624; the Pueblo of San Juan in 1992, Pl. Pueblo of San Juan's Answers to Defs.' First Set of Interrogs., id. at A1630; the Pueblo of Sandia in 1986, Pl. Pueblo of Sandia's Resps. to Defs.' First Set of Interrogs., id. at A1633; the Pueblo of Santa Ana in 1993, Pl. Pueblo of Santa Ana's Resps. to Defs.' First Set of Interrogs., id. at A1644; and the Pueblo of Tesuque in 1992, Tesuque Pueblo's Resp. to Defs.' First Set of Interrogs., id. at A1657-58. The Pueblo of San Felipe and the Pueblo of Taos began class III gaming after they entered into compacts. Resp. to Defs.' First Set of Interrogs. to Pl. Pueblo of San Felipe Gaming Enter. Bd., id. at A1627; Pl. Pueblo of Taos's Resps. to Defs.' First Set of Interrogs., id. at A1649-52. In May 1994, defendant John Kelly, the U.S. Attorney, entered into non-prosecution agreements with the Tribes who had already commenced gaming activities, agreeing not to take any enforcement action provided the Tribes limit their gaming activities. 8 Indian gaming became a significant campaign issue in the 1994 gubernatorial campaign. Governor King was defeated for reelection by Gary Johnson, who had publicly committed to signing Tribal-State compacts if elected Governor. At that same election, voters approved a constitutional amendment authorizing a state lottery and legalizing video gambling. 5 9 Governor Johnson appointed Professor Fred Ragsdale to negotiate compacts with various Indian tribes, and on February 13, 1995, he signed thirteen identical compacts. The Secretary of the Interior approved twelve of the compacts on March 15, 1995, and published notice of such approval in the Federal Register on March 22. The thirteenth compact, between the Pueblo of Acoma and the State, was approved by the Secretary on April 24, and notice was published in the Federal Register on May 15. Defendant Kelly sent to the tribes letters dated March 21, stating in pertinent part: 10 The execution, approval and publication of your tribe's compact should bring it into compliance with applicable federal law. In any event, the approval of the compacts constitutes a change in circumstances warranting termination of the non-prosecution letter. 11 ... [T]he letter of non-prosecution shall afford the tribe no protection with respect to conduct occurring after the date of termination. 12 Montoya Aff. Ex. RM-15, Appellants' App. Vol. II at A279; Vigil Aff. Ex. 1, id. at A325. On July 1, 1995, the New Mexico Lottery Act became effective, creating a state-run lottery. N.M. Stat. Ann. §§ 6-24-1 to -34. 13 The Tribes have spent varying amounts of money constructing new or improved gaming facilities, and have implemented various tribal programs with existing gaming revenues or in anticipation of such revenues. 6 The economic impact of gaming on the lives of Tribe members is significant, and gaming revenues are a major source of income for the Tribes.