Sheriff Joe Arpaio said Wednesday that he stands behind Stoddard and does not expect him to apologize at a news conference.I understand Arpaio is something of a folk hero to many, and the argument over jurisdiction is one I haven't thought completely through, but there really is no damn excuse for this, and to pretend otherwise is the act of an "Only One."
"Superior Court judges do not order my officers to hold press conferences," Arpaio said in a statement. "I decide who holds press conferences and when they are held regarding this Sheriff's Office." [More]
[Via Andre C]
3 comments:
No problem, if the judge has some intestinal fortitude.
"I guess you're right, Sheriff, I can't order the deputy to have a press conference. In that case, my only option is summary contempt and the officer can have 30 days in jail and a 500 dollar fine.* And he's also permanently trespassed from this courtroom."
Or whatever Arizona does for summary contempt. Presuming they even have it, of course.
If the judge had the intestinal fortitude that Lawhobbit referenced, the judge could make an example and simply dismiss the government's case with prejudice. At least that would illustrate the perception that the court isn't in really the pocket of government prosecutors.
In my experience, this is the way business is done in Arizona courts. I've seen illegal ex parte communications between prosecutors and judges when I was working as a legal assistant and was in the courtroom early preparing for trial. I guess the judge and the prosecutor didn't think anyone would be in the courtroom that early when they both walked out of the judge's chambers. They had the look of a kid that got caught pocketing candy at the supermarket.
There's a reason that the prosecutor's office is down the hall from the judge's office.
I'm sure the judge and the prosecutor is hoping this will just blow over. Business as usual in the corrupt U.S. court system.
BTW - I did some work for a former deputy who worked for Arpaio years ago, who told me about how corrupt Arpaio was then. It's a good thing to remember that Sheriff Joe used to work for the DEA. Apparently, little has changed. He has the support of the people due to his position in illegal aliens. But the number of people who have died while under the Sheriff's "care" has cost the taxpayers in Maricopa County millions of bux.
Keep up the good work, Joe. Maybe someday you'll be searing pink panties and eating green bologna.
Sorry about slaughtering the language in the previous post.
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