NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) _ A federal judge has turned back the latest attempt by the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation to win federal recognition.

U.S. District Court Judge Peter Dorsey today denied the tribe's motion for a summary judgment that would have ordered recognition. Instead he granted similar motions by the state and federal officials to uphold the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs' decision to reject the tribe's petition.

Dorsey rejected the tribe's argument that powerful political forces opposed to a third Indian casino in Connecticut helped reverse an earlier decision to acknowledge the tribe.

The tribe, which has a reservation in Kent, appeared to win recognition in January 2004. But the government successfully appealed, arguing that the tribe had substantial gaps in evidence related to its social continuity and political governance.

Messages were left seeking comment from the tribe.

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