A federal judge has ordered a southern Arizona tribe to produce records showing what the tribal council and one of its district councils discussed in 2002 and 2003 about plans to open a Phoenix-area casino.
The order U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell issued Tuesday came over the objections of lawyers for the Tohono O'Odham Nation. They argued that legislative privilege barred the release.
The Arizona Gaming Department is trying to show the tribe engaged in fraud when it entered into a 2002 gambling regulation agreement. The department says the tribe promised not to open a Phoenix-area casino. The tribe contends the casino is allowed by the agreement and federal law.
The casino near Glendale opened last year with limited gambling because the state won't issue needed certificates.
