New Mexico governor asks court to reject request on casino

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico’s governor is asking the state Supreme Court to reject an Oklahoma-based tribe’s request to order her to sign a gambling compact with the tribe.

Gov. Susana Martinez on Wednesday submitted a response to a petition filed last month by the Fort Sill Apache Tribe.

The tribe wants to operate a casino on land near Deming in southern New Mexico that was put into trust in 2002. It says it doesn’t matter that the tribe’s land hasn’t been federally approved yet for gambling.

Martinez’s response said the tribe first has to have eligible land and that she’s not required to sign a compact.

The New Mexico Supreme Court ruled in 2014 that Martinez had to recognize the Fort Sill Apaches as a New Mexico tribe.