A spokesman for Attorney General Gentner Drummond commented on the Oklahoma Supreme Court's decision in the case Cherokee Nation, et al v. United States Department of the Interior, et al. The court ruled that the Attorney General can represent the state's interests in this lawsuit.
Phil Bacharach, communications director for the Attorney General, stated, "Attorney General Drummond had argued he has statutory authority to advocate for the interests of the state, and we are pleased that the state Supreme Court today affirmed that stance. This lawsuit, which has squandered state resources over four-plus years, is the result of unlawful gaming compacts orchestrated by the Governor."
The lawsuit was initiated by the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Citizen Potawatomi, and Choctaw nations following Governor Stitt's actions to proceed with revised gaming compacts with four other tribes. These actions were taken despite a lack of legislative authority.
The Oklahoma Supreme Court had previously ruled twice that these compacts were invalid. However, Governor Stitt submitted them to the federal government for approval. Despite the state Supreme Court's ruling on their invalidity, Governor Stitt maintained that they were effectively approved by the Department of the Interior due to its inaction.