Anti-Casino Activists Take Fight To SJC

Anti-casinol activists hoping to repeal the state's 2011 casino law say they were pleased with questions asked by the state's highest court in their bid to place a voter referendum on the November ballot.

John Ribeiro, chair of the ``Repeal the Casino Deal'' campaign, said the seven-member panel, in a 45-minute hearing Monday morning, ``got to the heart of the matter'' and largely ignored ``frivolous parts'' of the case.

He said voters have the right to decide on casino gambling even though lawmakers have already debated and passed legislation, and a process to license up to three resort-style casinos has been underway for years.

Ribeiro also suggested parts of the state's arguments ``defied all logic.''  The Supreme Judicial Court is expected to rule sometime before July.