team president who claims he lives here.

Government officials confirmed that legal arguments between ex-Washington Redskins boss John Kent Cooke -- now said to be a Bermuda resident -- would not involve the administration here.

A US District Court judge has ordered Mr. Cooke to be deposed by lawyers for real estate mogul Howard Milstein, who has filed a law suit alleging that Mr.

Cooke helped defeat Mr. Milstein's attempt to purchase the Redskins.

The order by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan in the District requires Cooke to turn over documents by September 7 and be deposed by September 15, as part of an effort to determine whether Mr. Cooke resides in Bermuda.

Mr. Cooke, 57, has claimed in court documents that he is not under the jurisdiction of the US District Court because he is a resident of Bermuda, and not subject to US laws, and therefore the suit should be dismissed.

Last week, Attorney General Lois Browne Evans confirmed that Bermuda would only become involved if a request came from the US.

And a Government spokesman said the question of jurisdiction was to be determined by the US courts.

Mr. Milstein's lawyers have argued in motions that Mr. Cooke was still a resident of the District of Columbia when Mr. Milstein filed the suit on May 17. The suit also alleged that general manager Charley Casserly also obstructed Mr. Milstein's attempts to buy the team.

Mr. Milstein has claimed in legal papers that Mr. Cooke moved to Bermuda to avoid paying District income taxes on his share of his father's estate, believed to be around $60 million. His father, Jack Kent Cooke, died in April 1997.

The Redskins were the biggest asset in the elder Mr. Cooke's estate. Mr.

Milstein won the bidding for the team, beating out John Cooke and others with a bid of $800 million.

But Mr. Milstein's purchase did not receive the required approval of National Football League owners. Mr. Milstein's minority partner, Bethesda businessman Daniel M. Snyder, eventually led a group that purchased the team for $800 million in May.

Mr. Cooke, who lived in Washington for several decades, said he had become a resident of Bermuda but is retaining his US citizenship.

If Mr. Cooke convinces the court that he is a resident of Bermuda, Mr.

Milstein's suit would likely be dismissed.