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The Alabama Supreme Court has ruled that there was no standing for a temporary restraining order to be issued, blocking a raid on Country Crossing by the governor’s anti-gambling task force.

 

Related Information Alabama Supreme Court rules against restraining order blocking raid at Country Crossing.
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The ruling was issued just before 2 p.m. Friday, only hours before the kick off of three days of free concerts at Country Crossing as part of the facility’s grand opening.

In response, a federal lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Alabama, seeking a federal restraining order that would effectively block another attempted raid on Country Crossing. That lawsuit was filed at 2:45 p.m., according Country Crossing attorney Will Matthews.

The lawsuit was filed after the Supreme Court dismissed a judge’s order blocking the governor’s task force from raiding Country Crossing and seizing bingo machines.

The court did not address the task force’s request to be given more time to conduct the raid since the original 10-day limit on the search warrant expired. This means the task force will have to get a judge to issue a new search warrant.

The Supreme Court agreed with the task force’s contention that the Houston County Commission and a local economic development authority did not have standing to seek a court order blocking the raid.

Alabama Gov. Bob Riley’s press office issued a statement, calling the ruling a “victory for the rule of law in Alabama.”

“The Supreme Court’s order makes clear that gambling bosses around the State will not be able to prevent the State’s anti-gambling laws from being enforced,” Riley is quoted as saying in the release.  “This order will allow our Task Force to move forward in seizing these illegal slot machines, and it sends a strong message that similar efforts to stop seizures at other casinos around Alabama will not be permitted.”

Riley is also quoted as saying, regarding future raids, “We will not comment on the timing of law enforcement operations. The operators of all illegal casinos in this State should not sleep well tonight, tomorrow night, or any night in the future. The anti-gambling laws of Alabama are going to be enforced.”

Plans are still moving forward for three days of free concerts at Country Crossing as part of their official grand opening, beginning tonight and ending early Monday morning.