Arpaio Contempt Hearing Over Latino Profiling Resumes
*The problems for sheriff Joe haven’t gone away, and that could be because the things he’s accused of have not been settled. He faces racial profiling charges, and of contempt in the proceedings of that accusation. The hearing that started this week is a continuation of the contempt charge. VL
PHOENIX — Five months after the first round of civil contempt of court hearings against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio concluded in April, the proceedings will resume again on Thursday.
Arpaio and four others face civil contempt of court for violating U.S. District Court Judge Murray Snow’s orders in a long-standing racial profiling case. The sheriff and his chief deputy already admitted they violated court orders and can be held in contempt.
[pullquote]This round of hearings is expected to run until Oct. 2.[/pullquote]Snow will decide at the end of these hearings whether the sheriff and his staff disobeyed court orders intentionally or unwittingly, and what remedies — such as civil fines and additional oversight — are necessary. The judge will also decide whether to refer the case to a federal prosecutor to pursue criminal contempt charges against the sheriff and others.
The April proceedings lasted four days and yielded a major surprise when Arpaio confirmed from the stand that he had launched two secret investigations that seemingly related to Snow.
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