Today two different statements went live on the Magic homepage. These statements were in response to a pair of lawsuits that were recently filed against Wizards of the Coast.

The first was a press release, stating Wizards' stance in the matter. According to the release, the suits contend that judges are employees of Wizards of the Coast.

The second is a statement from Director of Organized Play Helene Bergeot reiterating the nature of these suits as "without merit" while also redeclaring support for judges and the Magic community at large.

This is the second time this year that Wizards of the Coast and some judges have found themselves on opposite sides of the aisle. The first was a high profile leak involving cards from Oath of the Gatewatch. As Magic continues to grow it will be important to watch how the relationship between Wizards and Judges continues to evolve.

Relevant text from the press release can be found below:

Renton, WA—A handful of individuals who have been Magic judges for many years recently brought two lawsuits against Wizards of the Coast alleging that participating in the Magic community as a judge equates to employment with Wizards. These lawsuits are meritless.

With the exception of the Pro Tour, the World Magic Cup, and the Magic World Championship, Magic events are run by tournament organizers and local game stores who directly engage judges. But these lawsuits claim that Wizards runs all events and that the people judging those events are Wizards employees. Anyone who has played at their local store knows this simply is not true.

Magic: The Gathering is fortunate to have the greatest community in gaming. Fans choose to become judges out of a sincere love of the game and as a way to enjoy their favorite hobby. They ensure events are fair and fun, and we appreciate everything they do.

We look forward to quickly resolving the matter. While we defend against these spurious lawsuits, we want to assure the Magic community that we will do everything possible to ensure that premier events continue to run smoothly. We thank the entire Magic community—players, organizers, and judges—for their continued support.