Cherokee County judge extends order prohibiting enforcement of anti-cockfighting law

<br>(Tahlequah-AP) -- A Cherokee County judge Monday extended his order prohibiting enforcement of the state's cockfighting ban in three counties. <br><br>District Judge Bruce Sewell's order means

Monday, December 2nd 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Tahlequah-AP) -- A Cherokee County judge Monday extended his order prohibiting enforcement of the state's cockfighting ban in three counties.

District Judge Bruce Sewell's order means the ban can't be enforced in Cherokee, Muskogee and Wagoner counties until at least February. A decision will be made then on whether to hold a hearing on the merits of the law.

Sewell had previously blocked the ban until Monday's hearing in Tahlequah.

The law making cockfighting or possessing gamecocks a felony was passed by voters on November 5th, but has been blocked in 13 Oklahoma counties.

The counties are mostly in eastern and southern Oklahoma where cockfighting supporters are challenging the law's constitutionality.

Judge Sewell also wants the two sides to consolidate the lawsuits into one to be heard before one judge.