The case of Melendres v. Arpaio was decided Friday with Judge Snow issuing a scathing 142-page decision describing misconduct at the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, led by “America’s toughest sheriff ™” Joe Arpaio. A number of news organizations, including the New York Times, is covering the story.
ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project Director Cecillia Wang said in a press release:
Singling people out for traffic stops and detention because they are Latino is unconstitutional and just plain un-American. Let this be a warning to any agency trying to enforce the “show me your papers” provision of SB 1070 and similar laws—there is no exception in the Constitution for immigrant enforcement.
While immigrant rights is usually off topic for this blog, Sheriff Arpaio is such a central figure in the birther controversy that something of this importance, particularly as it relates to race issues, cannot be overlooked.
Arpaio’s attorney says they will appeal the decision.
Judge: Ariz. Sheriff’s Office Profiles Latinos
The 142-page decision by U.S. District Judge Murray Snow in Phoenix backs up allegations that Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s critics have made for years that his officers rely on race in their immigration enforcement.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/judge-ariz-sheriffs-office-profiles-latinos-19253561#.UZ_3iL_H-Id
Here is a story from the Phoenix New Times with more details
http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/bastard/2013/05/joe_arpaios_doomsday_arpaio_lo.php
So far no comment from Arpaio or his lawyers.
Let karma take its course.
It will be interesting to find out how the June 14th update addresses:
The problem with Arpaio and his operation is that nothing so far has stopped them from continuing these practices. It will be interesting to see what “additional steps” and “merited relief” might actually make a difference and cause them to adhere to these rulings, instead of continue to operate with relative impunity, by ignoring them.
Arpaio’s attorney says they will appeal. Other lawyers say they will have an uphill battle getting this overturned.
What will be interesting is to see what happens at the June hearing. If Arpaio is combative as usual the judge may put someone into the sheriff’s office to make sure the rules are followed.
Arpaio’s term is up in 2016 and it doesn’t look lie the recall effort is going anywhere with five days left to dig up 100,000 more signatures.
Age and declining popularity may prompt Arpaio to “retire” in 2016. His vote margins have dropped from nearly 70% in 2000 to just over 50% in last year’s election.
But who knows? I wouldn’t bet against the guy.
If I laugh any harder I’ll need a change of-
…Uh oh.
But in all seriousness, you’ll notice that Birfer Report is being very quiet about this. As was WND(When I looked earlier at least).
Also being quiet…….Sheriff Joe. Normally he would have been on TV and talk radio by now huffing and puffing about the injustice of it all but I suspect his lawyers have suggested to him that he put a sock (or pair of pink underwear) in it……unless he wants the judge to appoint a monitor to run things for him.
Yeah, maybe his pointin’ finger has a cramp, so he can’t make any appearances today.
Or they suggested he keep a low profile on this until the next week’s deadline for the recall petition.
At this point I think he has more to fear from Judge Snow than the recall effort.
This court decision comes only a week before the May 30th deadline for the petitions for a recall election for Crazy Joe.
It seems to be time for Arpaio to put his cards on the table about his “investigation” into Obama’s birth certificate. It seems nearly a year ago we were promised astounding revelations, including the identification and arrest of the “forger” — so far, nada.
Sheriff Arpaio should be grateful for the measured relief requested by the Plaintiffs. He is really being let off easy. Hopefully, his legal counsel will help him understand that and he will make the necessary repairs to the practices, policies and procedures his office operates on.
But, let’s make it clear…his latent birtherism is, itself, a consequence of racial bias on his part. Isn’t his behavior in this regard also racial profiling? Afterall, he didn’t task his cold case posse to investigate Romney’s birth certificate.
alg: Afterall, he didn’t task his cold case posse to investigate Romney’s birth certificate.
nor did they begin with george romney, born spiting distance from AZ – mitt’s piece of crap BC wouldn’t pass muster with 1st graders in a side by side comparison with obama’s
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/29/us-usa-campaign-romney-birth-certificate-idUSBRE84S1GF20120529
But the damage to his public reputation has been done. Even if by some miracle he gets the decision appealed, its already out there. He has been called out as a racist by the US judicial system. The media has run with that news and are plastering it everywhere. That kind of stain doesn’t wash off, no matter how hard you scrub it. He’s finished. Let us take a moment to point and laugh at the washed up old sack of turds!
You are assuming that such designation is considered a bug, instead of a feature, by his supporters…
Unfortunately Arpaio’s supporters, and many in Arizona, will see this as a badge of honor for him and them.
Their numbers are dwindling but not enough…..yet.
Absent an indictment for something serious he’s safe until the next election.
If he’s still alive and kicking by then. The guy’s no spring chicken. But there you go, a grizzled old fossil with more years behind him than ahead of him, who believes America is for the “right” kind of people. A perfect specimen of the “What ever happened to my white, Christian America? The one Aryan Jesus died fighting the Injuns for?” crowd.
Actually I think he’s a lot more complex than that.
I lived in Arizona for all but the last two years of his reign and it was my feeling that he was motivated by whatever served Joe Arpaio best: Immigration. The battle with the Board of Supervisors. Birtherism.
I think he has overplayed his hand on most of them but they served him well in their time. Even if the judge slaps him with a monitor next month he will use it to further his martyrdom. He emerged unscathed from the Board of Supervisors fight that cost two lawyers their licenses.
If the Obama birth certificate “investigation” implodes he will blame it on Zullo and walk away.
He has been the Teflon sheriff but even Teflon wears off after a while.
People like him always get their comeuppance at some point.