The fate of a small, tribally-owned casino near Vanderbilt could be decided this year by the U.S. Supreme Court.
The casino was shuttered nearly two years ago after state officials and a competing tribe claimed it was illegal under state law.
The Bay Mills Indian Community opened the casino in 2010, away from their reservation in the Upper Peninsula.
Just a few months later, a federal judge ordered the facility closed, saying it was not located on tribal lands.
The case was appealed, and last summer, another court reversed the previous decision on grounds of a lack of jurisdiction, and the tribe's sovereign immunity.
Now, the case has been appealed to the nation's highest court. The Supreme Court hasn't decided if it will hear the case yet, but it is asking the federal government for more information.
Joy Yearout, communications director for Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette, said that's a good sign.
"The majority of petitions that come before the United States Supreme Court are rejected every year. And in this case, the court did not reject our petition, and in fact, they said they want more information before they make a decision. So we certainly think this is promising for our case." Yearout said.
The state is hoping the Supreme Court will agree that the Vanderbilt casino was operating illegally, and that the facility will be barred from future operations.
Tribal leaders have said they are equally optimistic that they will prevail before the nation's highest court. If the court does agree to hear the case, a ruling could come this summer.