Judge moves closer to contempt case against Arpaio [View all]

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Dec 4, 7:14 PM EST

Judge moves closer to contempt case against Arpaio

By JACQUES BILLEAUD
Associated Press

PHOENIX (AP) -- A judge moved one step closer to launching a contempt-of-court case against metro Phoenix's sheriff for his office's repeated violations of orders issued in a racial-profiling case.

U.S. District Judge Murray Snow didn't actually start the contempt case at a hearing Thursday attended by Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. But Snow sent strong signals that he intends to pursue contempt cases that could expose the sheriff to fines and perhaps jail time.

"It is impossible for me to let it go without some sort of appropriate response," Snow said of the violations. The judge noted Arpaio, when first meeting a court-appointed official who's monitoring the agency on Snow's behalf, said he loves to have confrontations with courts because such disputes increase his popularity.

Eighteen months ago, Snow found the sheriff's office had systematically singled out Latinos in regular traffic and special immigration patrols. Snow is requiring Arpaio's officers to video-record traffic stops, collect data on stops and undergo training to ensure they are making constitutional stops. Arpaio vigorously disputes the court's conclusions.


Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_ARIZONA_SHERIFF_RACIAL_PROFILING?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-12-04-19-08-47