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A three-judge panel of the North Carolina Court of Appeals heard arguments in a key video poker case today. You can click here to read my early brief on the proceedings.

The case is McCracken & Amick Inc et al versus Perdue. The case number is 09-431 if you’re inclined to go look up the supporting documents at the Court of Appeals’ document site. (Click here.)

This case is one of three regarding video poker in the state and could have the most far-reaching effects of any of them. At issue is whether a state law passed in 2006 (click here) conflicts with a federal law governing tribal gaming rights (click here for more information).

Some gratuitous thoughts:

• My favorite thing about arguments today was the fact that lawyers on both sides keep referring to a case known as “Artichoke Joe’s,” which apparently is one of the few pieces of case law out there directly on point.
   
• The sheriff’s association and us scruffy media types showed up to watch the proceedings in force, overflowing the small temporary courtroom the Court of Appeals has been using while their permanent digs are renovated.