John A. Collins III has been sworn in as a judge of the Gaming Disputes Court for Mohegan Tribal Court, and was appointed to serve as attorney trial referee in the New London Judicial District.

In its constitution, the Mohegan Tribe has given exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute involving or arising out of gaming to the Gaming Disputes Court which consists of a Trial Court and a Court of Appeals. Gaming includes jurisdiction over any associated hotel, resort or entertainment facility on tribal lands.

Collins, of Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law in New London, was appointed to serve as a trial referee by Supreme Court Justice Richard N. Palmer.

The goal of the attorney trial referee program is to accelerate case dispositions by permitting attorney trial referees to conduct proceedings in certain types of civil cases, thereby allowing judges assigned to the Civil Division to adjudicate a greater number of cases overall.

Collins also serves as a fact-finder/arbitrator for the Connecticut judicial system.

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