Future of task force before Ala. court

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - The future of the governor's gambling task force is now in the hands of the Alabama Supreme Court.

The court is considering arguments over whether the task force's commander, Mobile County District Attorney John Tyson, has legal authority in the post.

A Macon County judge blocked the task force May 5 by ruling that Tyson only has authority in Mobile County. Circuit Judge Tom Young's order allowed VictoryLand in Macon County to reopen.

Tyson appealed to the Alabama Supreme Court. He argued that a civil court ruling couldn't interfere with a criminal investigation into illegal gambling.

Attorneys for Macon County officials filed a brief Monday saying Tyson had no authority to appeal to the Supreme Court. They said the attorney general is the only one who can represent the state's interests before the Supreme Court.