Cockfighting Ballot chances appear slim

Tuesday, July 11th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- The trial on challenges to signatures on an anti-cockfighting petition is set for October second. The late trial date may keep the issue off the November seventh general election ballot. Janet Halliburton is the chairwoman of the Oklahoma Coalition Against Cockfighting. Halliburton says the group is still planning on the issue being on the ballot in November.

Larry Oliver says the issue won't make the ballot. Oliver is a Tulsa attorney representing the Oklahoma Gamefowl Breeders Association. The trial date was set by state Supreme Court referee Gregory Albert, who has been presiding over the case. Albert says there's no way to estimate how long the trial would last. At the conclusion of the trial, Albert will submit a report to the court, which can accept or reject his findings.