Arpaio defense attorney Michele Iafrate was named by Judge G. Murray Snow as a possible target of a criminal referral for advice she gave Defendants in the Melendres case. She allegedly advised the Sheriff’s Office not to disclose the existence of documents covered by a court order demanding production of IDs confiscated by the Department. Iafrate has taken a low profile in the proceedings since her dodgy advice was made public. Today, attorney Iafrate officially filed a motion to withdraw from the defense team of Joe Arpaio and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. Defendants will continue to be represented by the law firm of Jones, Skelton and Hochuli and co-counsel John Masterton.
In other Melendres news, Maricopa county has today filed notice of their acceptance of a budget of $200,000 to provide notice to persons who may have been harmed by unlawful detention by the Sheriff’s Office.
Update:
The motion was granted on June 9.
” a budget of $200,00″
Did you drop a zero, or misplace the comma??
Dropped a zero. Should be $200,000. After 50 years at the keyboard, repetitive motion has taken its toll, and I have developed osteoarthritis in my hands. My typing has become awful.
So that makes a total of three former Arpaio attorneys who have been sliced and diced, and exited the Melendres trial, bending the rules, for Joe Arpaio. He’s quite the guy. Hopefully Judge Snow has had enough of this circus act and throws the book at Arpaio.
Speaking of Arpaio (sort of), Zullo’s appeal (filed by Klayman) was dismissed by the 9th Circuit due to lack of jurisdiction.
Montgomery’s appeals remain.