Colorado court dismisses suit; it can be refiled

Thursday, Jan. 27, 2000 | 3:21 a.m.

The court said that earlier this week, Stilley joined in a motion with Secretary of State Sharon Priest to dismiss the challenge. The justices dismissed the case without prejudice, which means it can be refiled.

The proposed amendment at issue would open six counties to casino gambling, something Stilley says he hopes to prevent.

Stilley contended in his original petition that the proposal by Arkansas Casino Corp. does not accurately convey what it would do.

The Arkansas Casino Corp. ballot title has already been approved by Attorney General Mark Pryor. The measure would legalize casinos in six Arkansas counties, establish a state lottery and legalize charitable bingo. Money from the lottery would fund state college scholarships.

To get on the November 2000 ballot, backers must collect 70,076 signatures of registered Arkansas voters by July 7.

The Supreme Court said Stilley was supposed to file a petition with Priest questioning the popular name and ballot title of the Arkansas Casino Corp. proposal. Instead, he waited until after Priest and Pryor approved the measure's popular name. "Moreover, he did so by filing an original action in this court, rather that petitioning our court for review as is provided ...," the court said.