State Supreme Court Debates Electronic Bingo

The Alabama Supreme Court is considering arguments over whether the commander of the governor's anti-gambling task force has legal authority.

By: Jamie Burch | WKRG-TV
Published: March 15, 2010

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The future of the governor's gambling task force is now in the hands of the Alabama Supreme Court.

The court is considering arguments over whether the task force's commander, Mobile County District Attorney John Tyson, has legal authority in the post.

A Macon County judge blocked the task force March 5 by ruling that Tyson only has authority in Mobile County. Circuit Judge Tom Young's order allowed VictoryLand in Macon County to reopen.

Tyson appealed to the Alabama Supreme Court. He argued that a civil court ruling couldn't interfere with a criminal investigation into illegal gambling.

Attorneys for Macon County officials filed a brief Monday saying Tyson had no authority to appeal to the Supreme Court. They said the attorney general is the only one who can represent the state's interests before the Supreme Court.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)