U.S. Courts

Federal judge thwarts Wilenchik's delay attempts in massive jail-deaths suit against Arpaio

Court Gives Green Light to Bashas' Defamation Lawsuit Against UFCW Local 99

Federal Judge Dismisses Certain Claims in New Times' Lawsuit Against County Attorney Andrew Thomas and Sheriff Joe Arpaio. The Case Will Move Forward

Michael Lacey Slams Judge Bolton's Ruling

JAILHOUSE BLUES

PACK 'EM IN AND TAKE AWAY THEIR RIGHTS. THAT'S SHERIFF JOE ARPAIO'S PHILOSOPHY

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PACK 'EM IN AND TAKE AWAY THEIR RIGHTS. THAT'S SHERIFF JOE ARPAIO'S PHILOSOPHY

It's My Courtroom, and I'll Try Like I Want To

His daughter is a gubernatorial confidante. His appointment raised questions of cronyism. But it was Judge Ramon Alvarez's strange behavior in the courtroom that made him a target of misconduct allegations.

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His daughter is a gubernatorial confidante. His appointment raised questions of cronyism. But it was Judge Ramon Alvarez's strange behavior in the courtroom that made him a target of misconduct allegations.

Closed Door Policy

A Chilean national's struggle against deportation raises fundamental questions about the constitutional rights of immigrants

Custody Battle

Hundreds of inmates in state prisons need special protection from gang paybacks. When officials tried to mix them in with the general-prison population, they filed suit--and won.

Red Hot Chile Paperwork

Hundreds of inmates in state prisons need special protection from gang paybacks. When officials tried to mix them in with the general-prison population, they filed suit--and won.

Scrubbed?

Hundreds of inmates in state prisons need special protection from gang paybacks. When officials tried to mix them in with the general-prison population, they filed suit--and won.

Arson Exclusive

A new note, the Biltmore fire, the U.S. Attorney General

Reconstruction Ring

A new note, the Biltmore fire, the U.S. Attorney General

Siege Mentality

County Attorney Andrew Thomas is attempting to capitalize on a national trend by attacking local judges

Power Play

County law enforcement's attack on the judiciary didn't work, but the war's far from over

Scant Regard for a Free Press

County law enforcement's attack on the judiciary didn't work, but the war's far from over

Tucson Extremist Roy Warden's Upcoming "Rally" to "Impeach" AZ Supreme Ruth McGregor

Roy Warden: Este pendejo, indeed...Anti-immigrant nutjob and Mexican flag-burner Roy Warden's coming to town Wednesday, December 10 for a "rally" to "impeach" Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Ruth McGregor. Well, supposedly. According to e-mails the wacky Warden's sent out to the state Supreme Co ... More >>

Party Animals

County cranks examine their alcohol-stained agenda

He Just Doesn't Get It

Dennis Wilenchik issued hugely invasive subpoenas to New Times without grand jury review

Breathtaking Abuse of the Constitution

Joe Arpaio, Andy Thomas and Dennis Wilenchik hit New Times with grand jury subpoenas

Courting Death

U.S. Supreme Court says don't short-change death clients

Identity Crisis

Court committee considers keeping the names of jurors secret

Judging Stanley

Justice Stanley Feldman has ruled the Arizona legal scene for years. But now he's gone. And Governor Janet Napolitano has some important decisions to make.

The Merry Revolutionary

Clint Bolick is trying to change the world, one lawsuit at at time.

Habla Di, Habla Da, Strife Goes On

Federal ruling in bilingual-education lawsuit goes unheeded by state officials

MisJudged

U.S. District Court Judge Carl Muecke ruled on the letter of the law, but his liberal views and tough courtroom style made him the judge that conservatives love to hate

JUDICIAL INDESCRETIONSCONSERVATIVES PROPOSING NEW LAWS TO STEM FLOOD OF LAWSUITS BY INMATES

U.S. District Court Judge Carl Muecke ruled on the letter of the law, but his liberal views and tough courtroom style made him the judge that conservatives love to hate

O'CONNOR'S COURAGE

U.S. District Court Judge Carl Muecke ruled on the letter of the law, but his liberal views and tough courtroom style made him the judge that conservatives love to hate

Supreme Court Nominee Sonia Sotomayor Called Racist by the Racists

Sonia Sotomayor, a racist? Riiiiiight.... You know it's taken a turn for the surreal when an obnoxious lout like William Gheen is calling you a racist. Gheen is a nasty piece of work, the founder of the extremist nativist Americans for Legal Immigration PAC, which is headquartered in Rale ... More >>

About John McCain's Lame Rejection of Sonia Sotomayor for the U.S. Supreme Court...

Check out Arizona Senator John McCain's stated reasons for his pending no-vote against U.S. Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. ​ One word that comes to mind is hypocrisy. Here's part of what the defeated 2008 presidential candidate (that's him in the infamous debate photo) on t ... More >>

Andrew Thomas Denied Again in Review of Spanish-Language DUI Courts

When choosing an Andy Thomas photo, you always gotta go mustache.​Whether spoken in Spanish or English, the answer to Andy Thomas' request to have the ruling in his Spanish DUI Court lawsuit reviewed is the same: NO!On Thursday, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals refused Thomas' requ ... More >>

Sheriff Joe Arpaio Denied -- Again -- On Public Records Lawsuit

Sheriff Joe gets a third strike in his attempt to read court email.​Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has lost yet another round in his near-endless quest to read the email of Superior Court judges.This decision, from the Arizona Court of Appeals, appears to mark the third such rejection. A ... More >>

Racketeering Lawsuit Against County by Thomas and Arpaio is Weak Conspiracy Theory

The first reason why the racketeering lawsuit filed today against county leaders is probably going nowhere: It's being handled by Lisa Aubuchon, the deputy county attorney who has consistently blown politically sensitive cases for Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas. Under Aubuchon's leadership, ... More >>

Andrew Thomas Bar Complaints to Be Handled by Colorado Official

Image: Colorado Bar Association Colorado legal official John Gleason will examine allegations of misconduct against Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas.​ To guard against possible conflicts of interest, the Arizona Supreme Court has handed off bar complaints against Maricopa County ... More >>

Supreme Court Won't Stop Clean Elections Matching Funds in Arizona -- at Least, Not Now

Justice Kennedy won't block distribution of matching funds.​U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy has refused requests from the Goldwater Institute to intervene in Arizona's Clean Elections system -- meaning that Clean Elections will begin to issue matching funds later this month.After a fede ... More >>

Arizona Supreme Court Justice Michael Ryan Announces Retirement; Governor Jan Brewer Will Kinda-Sorta Pick Replacement

www.azcourts.gov Justice Michael Ryan is stepping down from the Arizona Supreme Court.​ Arizona Supreme Court Justice Michael Ryan announced today that he will retire from the bench after serving on the state's high court for eight years.Ryan, 64, is permitted by state law to serve unt ... More >>

Sandra Day O'Connor Still on Supreme Court? Many Americans Seem to Think So, Survey Claims

Sandra Day O'Connor: No longer a Supreme Court justice (write that down, America).​If you think former Supreme Court Justice -- and Arizona native -- Sandra Day O'Connor is still a member of the U.S. Supreme Court, you're not alone but you're wrong -- she retired from the bench in 2006. Don't feel ... More >>

Jan Brewer and Dean Martin Can Say Adios to Matching Funds; Supreme Court Rules to Halt Clean Elections -- For Now, Anyway

​The U.S. Supreme Court this morning put a halt to the matching funds portion of Arizona's Clean Elections program.The decision blocks matching funds for publicly funded candidates until the Supreme Court can hear the case -- or unless it ultimately decides not to grant review. That almost certain ... More >>

Pinal County Judge William O'Neil Becomes Arizona's First Presiding Disciplinary Judge

  William O'Neil has been named as the state's first Presiding Disciplinary Judge.​Whuu-chhh!   There's a new Disciplinary Judge in town. And he's looking to break in his whip on the backs of Arizona's worst lawyers. As part of a sweeping change in attorney-discipline ... More >>

Sidebar: Fantasy Voter Fraud

  William O'Neil has been named as the state's first Presiding Disciplinary Judge.​Whuu-chhh!   There's a new Disciplinary Judge in town. And he's looking to break in his whip on the backs of Arizona's worst lawyers. As part of a sweeping change in attorney-discipline ... More >>

Andrew Thomas' "Reckless, Four-Year Campaign of Corruption and Power Abuse"

Aren't you glad this guy didn't become state Attorney General? A "reckless, four-year campaign of corruption and power abuse." That's how retired Judge Charles E. Jones categorized the evidence against ex-County Attorney Andrew Thomas and his one-time hatchetwoman, former deputy County A ... More >>

Andrew Thomas May End Up Disbarred, But He Really Belongs in a Prison Cell

Aren't you glad this guy didn't become state Attorney General? A "reckless, four-year campaign of corruption and power abuse." That's how retired Judge Charles E. Jones categorized the evidence against ex-County Attorney Andrew Thomas and his one-time hatchetwoman, former deputy County A ... More >>

Lawsuits by County Officials Vs. County Move to Federal Court

  Image: Ray Stern Maricopa County Supervisors Don Stapley and Mary Rose Wilcox.​A $10 million lawsuit filed by Maricopa County Supervisor Don Stapley last Thursday against the county will likely end up in federal court. Lawsuits alleging abuse of power, defamation, civil right ... More >>

Judge John Roll In Peers' Thoughts At Superior Court Investiture

It was an upbeat event, yesterday's investiture ceremony in downtown Phoenix for incoming Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Douglas Gerlach.The late Judge John Roll​Presiding county judge Norm Davis led the Pledge of Allegiance and Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Rebecca White Berch adminis ... More >>

Jared Loughner's Competency Exam to be Performed by Court-Appointed Psychiatrist

Jared Lee Loughner​A San Diego-based psychiatrist was appointed today to evaluate Jared Loughner, the 22-year-old lone suspect in the Tucson shooting rampage on January 8. U.S. District Judge Larry Alan Burns appointed Dr. Matthew Carroll to perform Loughner's mental competency exam, accordin ... More >>

U.S. Supreme Court: Arizona's Employer Sanctions Law A-OK

​In a 5-3 vote, the U.S. Supreme Court has sustained Arizona's employer sanctions law.The law forces employers to check the immigration status of employees, and allows the state to penalize businesses that hire illegal immigrants.

Governor Jan Brewer Appeals SB 1070 Case to Supreme Court

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer wants to take SB1070 all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.​ Governor Jan Brewer wants to the U.S. Supreme Court to take a look at Arizona's contested immigration law, SB1070, following the law's shoot-downs in lower courts. "I am hopeful that the U.S. Supreme Cour ... More >>

Decision in State Bar Disciplinary Case Not Expected Till Spring; Andrew Thomas, Lisa Aubuchon and Rachel Alexander Face Punishment

Image: Arizona Supreme CourtState Bar Disciplinary Judge William O'Neil, the same guy who stopped Andrew Thomas' bogus prosecution of Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Gary Donahoe, will now help decide whether Thomas can keep practicing law in Arizona.​ The Arizona State Bar's independent ... More >>

Governor Brewer's Lawsuit Against Medical Marijuana Law Dismissed by Federal Judge

​ A federal judge today tossed Governor Jan Brewer's lawsuit against the state's Medical Marijuana Act, saying in her ruling that the state's complaint wasn't ripe.U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton dismissed the case without prejudice and invited the state to file an amended complaint to correc ... More >>