Subject: U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary

• Are Your Papers in Order?

  March 19, 2009

• MR. SMITH GOES TO EXTREMESA STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISSEMINATES SOME CURIOUS AIDS "FACTS"

  March 31, 1993

• SHE FOUGHT THE LAW

  STELLA GAUDREAU LEADS HER FELLOW DOCUMENT PREPARERS TO A VICTORY OVER THE STATE BAR

  March 30, 1995

• FLASHES

  September 21, 1995

• Flashes

  September 17, 1998

• Out, Out, Damn Sport!

  Voters seem certain to do what the Arizona Legislature has repeatedly refused to do--ban cockfighting, and hasten the death of a way of life

  October 8, 1998

• Pet Project

  The fur flies in the battle over a dog park in Fountain Hills

  February 4, 1999

• The Bird Defends a Hispanic Woman Whose Wing Was Clipped by the MCSO, and Knocks Guadalupe Mayor Frankie Montiel's Idea of Din-Din with Arpaio

  March 19, 2009

• Feb. 13 In Blogs: Porn Stars, Tom Morello, TeHaru and More

  We understand that in the 24-hour news cycle it can be difficult to keep up. Worry not! We have the solution. Check back on Valley Fever every evening for highlights from each of New Times' blogs. Today's entries:Valley Fever: Mesa Teacher Accused of Molesting Junior High School Student Researcher Says Anti-Meth Ads Don't Work and Waste Taxpayer Funds Feathered Bastard: House Judiciary Committee Presses Eric Holder, Janet Napolitano to Investigate Sheriff Joe ArpaioPorn Star Stormy Daniels Tal

  February 13, 2009

• Janet Napolitano, Barack Obama's Token Nativist

  by Eduardo Barraza of Barriozona.comBarack Obama's token nativist, among other things...With every statement uttered from her perch as Homeland Security czar, in every action she takes each day her fanny remains in its cozy D.C. seat, ex-Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano reaffirms that she's Barack Obama's token nativist. Best to think of her as a chunky, skunk-haired version of the Child Catcher from the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. But Nappy's not just after kids, she's after undocumented Hi

  February 16, 2009

• Joe Arpaio Blasted by John Conyers, Zoe Lofgren, Mary Rose Wilcox Tomorrow in D.C.

  Check this video the group America's Voice has been using to gather signatures for the anti-Joe petition to be ballyhooed tomorrow. This is one I wish I could be in D.C. for: Tomorrow at 1 p.m., House Judiciary Chair John Conyers, Immigration Subcommittee Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren, and apparently our own Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox, along with other national and local civil rights leaders, will publicly call on the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security to invest

  March 10, 2009

• John Conyers to Hold Hearings on Sheriff Joe Arpaio's Abuses, and Video from Wednesday's Arpaio Pile On in D.C.

  One clip from today's media event denouncing Joe Arpaio, and heralding the investigation into him by the U.S. Department of Justice. The big news out of D.C. for us here in Sand Land, of course, is that the Justice Department is investigating Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his office for civil rights violations. Now I've learned from Jonathan Godfrey, the Communications Director for the House Judiciary Committee, that Chairman John Conyers has indicated his committee will hold hearings on Arpaio's abu

  March 11, 2009

• E.J. Montini, Sheriff Joe Arpaio's New Best Bud

  Maybe E.J. Montini should ask Maria del Carmen Garcia Martinez (left) if she feels the MCSO violated her civil rights?Why do I bother with a middlebrow muttonhead like the Republic's E.J. Montini? After all, this smug little scribbler is known for his milquetoasty opinions, his aversion to rocking the proverbial boat, and his kowtowing to authority. No doubt he's well-paid for his snooty simpering, the kind that doesn't upset the digestion of the seniors in Sun City too much. He certainly doesn'

  March 13, 2009

• A Word to Joe Arpaio Foes on the Huffington Post's Cynicism

  The latest video from HumanLeague002 and Puente. There is one sure way to prove the cynical, prissy pundits, the professional tut-tutters right in regards to Sheriff Joe Arpaio: Do nothing. "Do nothing" is essentially the message to the streets from Huffington Post's Dawn Teo, a former PR rep who now lives in Arizona and writes for the HP. The title for her latest blog post, an analysis of the letter from the Department of Justice to Sheriff Arpaio informing our corrupt

  March 18, 2009

• State Senate to Hold Hearing on Issue of Felony Warrants

    Whether Sheriff Joe Arpaio is using his resources correctly when it comes to serving felony warrants will be among issues discussed at a legislative hearing on Monday. The State Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hear testimony starting at 1:30 p.m. on the subject of felony warrants -- a topic well known to Arpaio observers. The hearing promises to be interesting, with planned appearances by law enforcement officials and members of the Goldwater Institute,

  March 19, 2009

• John Conyers' House Judiciary Committee to Hold 287(g) Hearing April 2

  from Congressman Nadler's Web site NYC Congressman Jerry Nadler (left), with House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers. Trying to get info out of Washington, D.C. from here in Sand Land is like attempting to obtain cheese directly from the cow's teat sometimes. Nevertheless, I'm in receipt of scuttlebutt from folks in the immigrant rights community locally, who've been telling me about the joint hearing to be held Thursday, April 2 by Chairman John Conyers' House Judiciary Committee

  March 27, 2009

• Who's Afraid of Joe Arpaio? The House Judiciary Committee, Claim Some

  from Congressman Conyers' Web siteHouse Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers...Several credible sources in the pro-immigrant activist community have informed me that they believe the House Judiciary Committee is afraid of taking on Sheriff Joe Arpaio directly, and is wary of having him become the centerpiece of the hearing.These sources, who do not wish to be identified, say they've been asked to provide names of possible witnesses for the 287(g) hearing to take place Thursday, April 2. At

  March 30, 2009

• Mesa Police Chief George Gascon Will Testify Before House Judiciary Committee

  Gascon's on his way to D.C., and Arpaio's currently giving birth to a cow.What a difference a few hours make. I just received confirmation from Mesa Police Department PIO Edward Wessing that Police Chief George Gascon has been contacted by the House Judiciary Committee, and that he will testify Thursday, April 2 during the committee's 287(g) hearing.In other words, it's on like Donkey Kong, gentlemen. By inviting Gascon to speak, the House Judiciary Committee has calmed the worries of pro-immigr

  March 30, 2009

• March 31 In Blogs: Green Day, Jimmy Eat World, Lyte Lounge, Chewie and More

  We understand that in the 24-hour news cycle it can be difficult to keep up. Worry not! We have the solution. Check back on Valley Fever every evening for highlights from each of New Times' blogs. Today's entries: Valley Fever: Child Predator Alert was Paranoia; Police Called After Man Asks Kids Where to Find Tree Swing Blogfight Round 3: Sonoran Alliance Should Dump "Chewie" to Stay Popular, Says Espresso Pundit Feathered Bastard: Who's Afraid of Joe Arpaio? The House Judiciary Committee, Cl

  March 31, 2009

• Live from D.C.: The House/Arpaio 287(g) Hearings, Starting About 7 a.m. Phoenix Time

  Stepping off the plane in Washington D.C. this afternoon was like my first trip to New York many moons ago. The cab driver is Russian. The hotel front desk guy is from someplace in Africa. The room service waiter is from El Salvador. In other words, D.C. shows us to be a nation of immigrants. The nativists back in Arizona would freak out. Not that you can't find diversity in Phoenix and Maricopa County, it's just that it scares the bejeezus out of too many local Caucasians. For ma

  April 2, 2009

• U.S. House 287(g) Hearings: Judiciary Committee Chairman Says in Opening Remarks That "Immigrant Bashing" is a "Pretty Popular Sport" in Some Places

  Things are just getting under way here in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building for the House Judiciary Committe's 287(g) hearings. There's a packed house, with plenty of representation from Arizona, including Mesa Police Chief George Gascon, civil rights activist Salvador Reza, and lawyer/activist Antonio Bustamante. Zoe Lofgren: "It's important as we try to enforce the law, that we follow the law," California Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, who is chairing the hearing, ha

  April 2, 2009

• U.S. House 287(g) Hearings: First Round of Witnesses Includes U.S. Citizen, Who - Along With his Legal Resident Father - Was Harassed by Joe Arpaio's Men

  Congressman Luis Gutierrez pointed out that Irish and Italians were labeled as bringing crime to this country, just as Mexicans are now. Avondale, Arizona, resident Julio Mora was the first witness for the House Judiciary Committee after it came back from it's break for voting. Mora is a U.S. citizen. His father is a permanent legal resident. Mora was driving his father to work at HMI Landscaping in Phoenix, when his car was stopped more than 100 yards from the bu

  April 2, 2009

• U.S. House 287(g) Hearings: A Quick Q & A with Mesa Police Chief George Gascon

  Gascon outside the House Judiciary Committee Thursday afternoon. The difference between Mesa Police Chief George Gascon and Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is like the difference between Barack Obama and Geoge Bush. Brains versus bluster. The former LAPD assistant chief is a policy wonk with a cop's toughness. He out-classes Arpaio. Too bad Gascon isn't our sheriff instead of what we're stuck with for four more years. That is, unless the Justice Department gets on the bal

  April 2, 2009

• The Joe Arpaio Brown-Noser of the Week: Sergeant Brett "Shut Up!" Palmer, and, Oh, Joe Hangs Up on Me

  from ABC 15MCSO Sergeant Brett "Shut Up!" Palmer. Think he shaves between those brows? So I roll back into town today, happy to return to the land of low humidity, and be free from the muggy swamp of D.C. I'm hoping to have a low key day, and save the venom for another time. But then I check out this clip of MCSO Sergeant Brett Palmer and some of his fellow beige-shirted simians outside City Hall, denouncing certain elected officials (and one police chief) who are critical of their jefe Sheriff

  April 3, 2009

• Are Your Papers in Order?

  March 12, 2009

• Arpaio and the 287(g) Hearings, Direct from D.C.

  April 9, 2009

• Gone Missing

  November 1, 2007

• Straitjacket Jan Brewer

  Empowering the Secretary of State, especially this secretary of state, to decide when elections can be suspended is a crazy idea. Sanity must prevail in state government

  February 2, 2006

• Moral Absurdity

  The Arizona Legislature should start caring more about children than zygotes

  April 14, 2005

• Security Flap

  September 16, 2004

• Locked Up

  Despite promises of true reform, legislators appear bent on shelling out more money to private prison companies

  November 27, 2003

• Lock Up, Rub Down

  State lawmakers push dubious Mexican drug rehab program

  November 15, 2001

• Taxing Question

  Law allows tourism authority to tap $1 billion for stadium construction

  October 11, 2001

• Paying the Price

  Major gas companies are driving away independent station operators, all in the name of greed

  October 26, 2000

• PIERCING THE CLASS CEILING

  December 15, 1993

• MEANWHILE, BACK IN THE LOBBY

  "THE DEAL" GOES DOWN. INFLUENCE GETS PEDDLED. IS IT ANY WONDER LAWMAKERS ARE GETTING A LIFE---SOMEPLACE ELSE?

  June 17, 1992

• Barack Obama Threatened, Reviled at Tea Bag Hate-Fest at Arizona Capitol

  So, who doesn't belong in this picture?I'm not sure what the highlight of Wednesday's big tea-bag-Obama-hate-fest at the Capitol was for me. Was it the high-school girl carrying a sign comparing President Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler and Vladimir Lenin? Or the belligerent dork talking to state Senator Thayer Verschoor about how he (the dork) wanted to "kill" an "enemy" such as Obama? Or maybe it was spotting known neo-Nazis in the crowd such as geriatric goosestepper Elton Hall and others? Grant

  April 16, 2009

• Inmate Move, Redux: Arpaio Covers Himself with Move of 900 Inmates This Afternoon

  Joe had so much fun marching inmates awaiting trial in February, he's doing it again...In an attempt to recapture his status as an equal-opportunity sadist, Sheriff Joe Arpaio's reprising his 200 Mexican March, which inflamed the Hispanic community and civil rights activists back in February. However, this time, he's moving 900, and there's no indication in his press release that it'll be other than a mixed crowd. The latest example of Joe's barbarity begins at 4 p.m., and will involve "pre-sent

  April 17, 2009

• The Lumley Vampire Attacks Arizona Department of Corrections’ Charles Ryan for the Death of Marcia Powell, Arpaio’s Goons Zip-Tie a 12-Year-Old, and the Jail Lockdowns Are Over

  May 28, 2009

• Al Sharpton Rocks Phoenix, from Pilgrim Rest, to El Portal, to Wells Fargo and Finally, Lou Dobbs

  Rev. Sharpton at Pilgrim Rest, early Friday morning Today the Reverend Al Sharpton achieved what no one else has achieved before in Arizona's civil rights struggle for the undocumented: the bringing together of African Americans and Latinos on the issues of racial profiling, immigration reform and the 287(g) program. After meeting with those who've suffered racial profiling at the hands of Sheriff Joe Arpaio's deputies, Sharpton addressed a crowd of several hundred at Pilgrim Rest Bap

  June 19, 2009

• Al Sharpton Whups Sheriff Joe, and Courtney Bisbee’s Innocence Claim Is Shot Down by a Judge

  June 25, 2009

• Mesa Police Chief George Gascon: "Political Pressures" Made Job More Challenging

    At his last news conference before heading out to lead the San Francisco Police Department, Mesa Police Chief George Gascon said today that "political pressures" made his time in Arizona more challenging. That's sort of an understatement. In fact, the political realities in Maricopa County and Mesa  may very well have spurred the highly experienced chief to leave. Gascon's focus on human rights put him at odds with Sheriff Joe Arpaio on the hot-button

  July 21, 2009

• Joe Arpaio vs. ACLU: New Lawsuit Tomorrow Over Worksite Raid

  Is the ACLU's new lawsuit on behalf of Avondale resident Julio Mora? We'll find out tomorrow.​ The Arizona ACLU isn't giving out any details, but they've just issued a press advisory that at noon tomorrow they will announce a lawsuit, "on behalf of two Avondale residents who were illegally arrested and detained during a worksite raid conducted by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office." Though the ACLU's mum for the moment, my hunch is that the lawsuit will involve the February raid on Ha

  August 18, 2009

• ACLU and Julio and Julian Mora Sue Joe Arpaio, Arpaio Whines on Twitter

  Julio Mora with his father Julian at the Arizona ACLU offices today, announcing their lawsuit against Arpaio​As I anticipated in yesterday's blog post, the Arizona ACLU today had a press conference at their offices with father-son Julian and Julio Mora present, announcing a lawsuit on their behalf against Sheriff Joe and other members of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. The incident at issue occurred during the MCSO's February raid of county contractor Handyman Maintenance, Inc. Bo

  August 19, 2009

• Sheriff Joe’s Got Arizona ACORN in his Crosshairs, Plus a Black Cowboy from Tucson’s Got a Rap for Our Loony Lawman

  September 24, 2009