Alabama Governor Riley Praises Alabama Supreme Court Decision On Slot Machine Case

April 17, 2009 -- MONTGOMERY - The Alabama Supreme Court today issued an order that allows the Governor’s Task Force on Illegal Gambling to hold onto the slot machines and cash seized in March during a raid on the White Hall gambling facility in Lowndes County. Former Supreme Court Justice Mark Kennedy had ordered the Task Force to return the slot machines and cash, but the Task Force challenged Kennedy’s ability to decide the case based upon his ties to gambling interests in the state.

Following the issuance of the ruling by Kennedy, the Task Force asked the Supreme Court to stay the order and to consider whether Kennedy should have recused himself from participating in the case. Kennedy has worked in the past for the Poarch Creek Indian Tribe, which operates some similar machines at its casino in Atmore. Kennedy also refused to disclose the existence of other current and past ties to Alabama gambling interests.

The Alabama Supreme Court decided today that Kennedy’s order should be stayed while the Court considers the recusal issue.

“Our legal system depends upon impartial and unbiased judges deciding cases,” said Governor Riley. “It is inconceivable that a judge with ties to gambling in the state would think he could act in an unbiased manner in this case, and I am glad that the Supreme Court has decided to examine that question.

“There is no doubt that the machines seized during the raid are illegal slot machines,” said Governor Riley. “To require law enforcement to give back illegal machines to the parties breaking the law would have been a terrible miscarriage of justice. I salute the Supreme Court for righting this wrong.”

Source: Alabama Governor