Arpaio faces Friday deadline in civil rights suit
Jun 5, 2012, 9:37 AM
PHOENIX — Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s lawyers face a Friday
deadline for responding in court to the U.S. Justice Department’s civil rights
lawsuit against the sheriff’s office.
Arpaio’s office is accused of carrying out a pattern of discrimination against
Latinos in his trademark immigration patrols and having a culture of disregard
for basic constitutional rights.
The Justice Department filed its lawsuit nearly a month ago in federal court
after settlement talks were called off when the sheriff refused to agree to a
court-appointed monitor who would help enforce a settlement of the civil rights
allegations.
The sheriff has said the lawsuit was a politically motivated attempt by the
Obama administration to win favor with Latino votes in a presidential election
year and denied allegations of systematic discriminatory policing.
