News Service of Florida – Tallahassee – Foiled in its attempt to convince a trial judge, the Miccosukee Tribe of Florida is asking the Florida Supreme Court to throw out a $536 million deal between the South Florida Water Management District and U.S. Sugar to purchase 73,000 acres in the name of Everglades restoration. The tribe, which along with some sugar growers opposes the sale, on Wednesday filed its initial brief in the case. The tribe contends, among other things, that the district did not have the authority to issue the bonds, called Certificates of Participations or COPS for short, to purchase the land. A circuit judge in Palm Beach County disagreed in August, saying the district was within its rights to sell up to $650 million in bonds to make the purchase. “The purpose of the obligation here was presented to be Everglades restoration, which requires construction of water management facilities on the purchased land,” the tribe’s attorney, Dexter Lehtinen wrote. “The COPs as approved are for a pure land purchase, without funds for facilities, so that the purpose of the bonds cannot be accomplished with the bonds issued.” Oral argument dates have yet to be set.