Justice says Supreme Court bingo decision is unfair to VictoryLand
Not all Alabama Supreme Court justices agreed with this afternoon’s decision to lift a lower court order that halted a raid at Macon County’s VictoryLand casino.
In strong language dissenting from the majority of the court, Justice Tom Woodall criticized the opinion. He charged that his brethren had ignored past court decisions that left cases like the one involving VictoryLand to the jurisdiction of trial courts. In the VictoryLand case, the circuit court in Macon County had set a hearing for Friday, before the high court’s decision made that hearing moot.
“The court’s departure today from that practice is, in my opinion, unnecessary and, under the facts of this case, unfair to Macon County Greyhound Park,” Woodall wrote.
While the majority of the court found that a raid at VictoryLand and the seizure of its 6,000-plus electronic bingo machines would not pose “irreparable harm” to it, Woodall disagreed.
“Although its property would have to be returned, any such seizure would undoubtedly cause a loss of revenue, goodwill and business reputation, losses that VictoryLand could jot recover from the sovereignly immune state,” Woodall wrote.
Woodall’s strongest words were saved for last, when he criticized the majority opinion for casting a “cloud” over previous decisions by both the high court and lower courts involving the legality of various bingo operations.
“What has been an orderly process, I suspect, will soon resemble a three-ring circus,” Woodall wrote.
Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb joined Woodall in the dissent.
By Chuck Dean
Source: The Birmingham News
February 04, 2010, 7:45PM
I think Gov Riley has lost his mind. He has gone crazy. Wonder who is pay him to do this raid crap?
This is why Alabama cannot progress and get out of the dark ages. Why can we not elect fresh, young, progressive ideas that will move AL forward, get the state out of debt and show the rest of the nation that we are not just a state where we have a law that permits you to marry your first cousin?
Where these jobs you are talking about? All I see is thousands of illegal aliens in this State taking ALL the jobs! And I don’t see you or anybody else in Al. doing a thing about these roaches over running here and everywhere! And then you Gov. Riley takes the jobs we do have! we are sick of, we know you have been bought off and it will show if you ever run for any office! Including
even a dog catcher! OH I FORGOT THAT WAS ONE OF THE CHARITIES THAT WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO CLOSE BECAUSE OF YOU! ALONG WITH THE ARC OF WALKER CO. THAT IS HELPING THE MENTALLY CHALLENGED LIVE BETTER AND NORMAL LIVES! CONGRADUATIONS DUMB#$%!
our governor has been in office for 7 years,5 of those years he did a good job and help with getting jobs in the state.The last year he has been a the worst thing we could have in our state and he has lost the respect of the majority in this state.It,s apprant that he hates Ronnie Gilley and to get to Mr Gilley he had to go after everyone in the state who has bingo parlors. He does not CARE who is put out of work,If his kids worked at one of these places would he be doing this.In the STATE of STATE talk he said there would be no cuts anywhere,He was GAMBLING on getting money from the Federal Goverment which is not coming since the election in Mass.did not go Obama way. Charter school is not going to pass this year,I doubt anything this Governor wants out of our government will pass.
The majority will oppose anything Bob Riley does ,whether good or bad,because he’s lost all credibility with the citizens of Alabama. He’s effectively committed political suicide.
Riley is an evil man.his hwy patrol Terrorists will kill for him.AG King needs to have him incarcerated and chargrd with crimes against humanity(a death sentense will follow) Amen.
By the way i am against any vote that brings more gambling.gambling is wrong. Amen
Just because one group sees it as wrong does not mean it is their RIGHT to keep others from doing it.
Gambling does not violate the rights of one person according to the U.S. Constitution. If YOU think it is wrong then YOU don’t do it. DO NOT tell me what wrong is and keep me from it.
In the state of Alabama, the only corruption is the Gov Bob Riley and his well compensated cronies who voted no. Unfortunately, we have a district attorney who patiently sat by while Country Crossing was being built, turned down the opportunity to visit the site and inspect the gaming machines. Houston County awarded permits, registrations and collect a very hefty payment. Doug Valeska is pro Riley and is not doing his job in Houston County. He is up for re election and it’s time for him to go. Our sheriff doesn’t care much about us either. Look at Greene County. They are going to stand united to protect their facility.
How did these people get elected??? I cannot wait to rid Houston County of these hypocrites once and for all. You either care and fight for your county citizens and businesses or you need to resign.
Shame on all of the legislature, county officials and Gov Bob Riley for the continued corruption that has given politicians a bad name.
Our first lady behaved like a shrew at the rally in Montgomery. Shame on her. I have emailed the video clips to my relatives, friends and previous co workers in the Northeast to show why Alabama has the poorest schools, salaries, industry and government.
I cannot wait to see what Jesse Jackson does to Bob. God Bless Jesse Jackson in helping the people of Alabama bring this before the nation. Bob Riley has lost all credibility and the nation will see that. I hope the Congress and FBI will indite him for his many violations Ie: Conflict of interest, receiving “contributions” from the Indian Casinos so they will still have the monopoly in Alabama.
I cannot wait to see him wiggle out of this.
Diane
I love your post was really interesting, but I was wondering If the US senate has a hard time understanding the new health care bill from Obama how can common folks? When will we be able to understand what he has done?