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REL: 05/21/2010

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SUPREME COURT OF ALABAMA
OCTOBER TERM, 2009-2010 ____________________ 1090808 ____________________ Ex parte State of Alabama et al. PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS (In re: Governor Bob Riley et al. v. Cornerstone Community Outreach, Inc., et al. ____________________ State of Alabama v. Chad Dickie et al.) (Lowndes Circuit Court, CV-09-900019 and CV-09-900027)

1090808 MURDOCK, Justice. The issues raised by this petition for a writ of mandamus are: (1) whether law-enforcement activities and litigation

pursued by attorneys and other officers who are otherwise appropriately authorized by the governor to do so are

"nullities" without the approval of the attorney general or the local district attorney and (2) whether the attorney

general has the right to assume control of such activities and litigation. Because we answer both questions in the negative,

we grant the petition and issue the writ of mandamus. I. Cornerstone Facts and Procedural History Community Outreach, Inc. ("Cornerstone"),

obtained a license from the Town of White Hall in Lowndes County to conduct games of bingo. The basis for

Cornerstone's license was a local constitutional amendment that authorizes charity bingo games. Const. 1901 (Local Amendments, Amendment No. 674, Ala. County,

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