U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary

Should Jan Brewer and the Legislature Give Up on Trying to Ban Bath Salts and Spice?

More than a year after Governor Jan Brewer claimed she outlawed the sale and use of the substances known as "bath salts," and two years after she said the same of "spice," Brewer now takes credit for signing a bill that's supposed to "combat" bath salts and spice.Brewer says this now because there n ... More >>

Arizona's Latest Advertised "Ban" on Bath Salts and Spice Passes Senate

It seems like if the Legislature were to "ban" something, it wouldn't have to keep passing bills session after session to "ban" that same thing.Yet, here we are again, more than a year after Governor Jan Brewer claimed she outlawed the sale and use of the substances known as "bath salts," and two ye ... More >>

Eddie Farnsworth Blocked Hearing for Anti-Child-Sex-Trafficking Bill, Time Running Out for Striker

Pimps selling child prostitutes and the johns that buy them can rest easy knowing that Republican Eddie Farnsworth is chair of the state House Judiciary Committee. See also: -Why Eddie "Little Lord" Farnsworth and Fellow GOPers Need to Suppress the Latino Vote Despite the broad support of both Rep ... More >>

Why Eddie "Little Lord" Farnsworth and Fellow GOPers Need to Suppress the Latino Vote

Mel McDonald, Former Anti-Drug U.S. Attorney, Speaks Against Pot-Destroying Law

Former anti-drug crusader U.S. Attorney Mel McDonald, who was appointed by President Ronald Reagan, appears to be very serious about defending Arizona's medical-marijuana law as a citizen and father of a patient who uses medical marijuana.You may have seen the video McDonald recorded a couple months ... More >>

Bill Montgomery Believes Law He's Enforcing Against Tom Horne Is Unconstitutional

It's not every day that an elected law enforcement official, who has sworn an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States, confesses that he or she is enforcing an unconstitutional law. See also: -The MCAO Follows ICE's Blueprint for Separating Immigrant Families Yet, that's just what Ma ... More >>

Trent Franks Successfully Wastes Everyone's Time Again as His D.C. Abortion Bill Fails

The House of Representatives slapped down another one of Congressman Trent Franks' anti-abortion bills yesterday, and Franks has now successfully wasted more than one hour and 38 minutes of Congress' time this year alone.Franks' proposed ban on abortions past 20 weeks in Washington D.C.was short by ... More >>

Trent Franks' D.C. Abortion Bill Passes Committee as He Tries to Stop the "Greatest Genocide in World History"

Republican Congressman Trent Franks apparently believes he's trying to stop something worse than the Holocaust.Of course, it's Franks talking about his bread-and-butter issue of abortion, which he's currently considering as "the greatest genocide in world history."Remember, according to Franks, abor ... More >>

Democrat Offers to Rename Trent Franks' Abortion Bill "Ronald Reagan Impose Your Beliefs on A Woman's Womb Act"

Congressman Trent Franks' idea of name-dropping historical figures in an abortion bill didn't make everyone happy.​For some reason, a few legislators weren't fans of Arizona Congressman Trent Franks naming his bill for a federal ban on race/gender-based abortions after Frederick Douglass and Susan ... More >>

GOP Abortion Bullies: "Abortion Is the Leading Cause of Death In the Black Community"

​According to Texas Congressman Lamar Smith, "abortion is the leading cause of death in the black community" -- a claim he makes in a memo to House Republicans urging them to vote for a bill introduced by fagala-phobic Congressman Trent Franks that would make it illegal for a woman to end a pregna ... More >>

Abortion Bully Trent Franks Wants to Tell People in Washington D.C. When They're Allowed to End a Pregnancy

​Fagala-phobic abortion bully Trent Franks today introduced a bill into Congress that, if it becomes law, would dictate when people in Washington D.C. are allowed to end a pregnancy.Franks, just to be clear, is a congressman from Arizona -- but that's not stopping him from playing morality cop in ... More >>

State Representative Kimberly Yee Doesn't Want Your Kids to Have Bongs Anymore

​State Representative Kimberly Yee wants to add possessing a bong to the list of things kids in Arizona aren't allowed to do.Yee introduced House Bill 2034, which would make it illegal for kids under 18 to possess a hookah, bong, water pipe, and anything else that's intended for "tobacco use only" ... More >>

Congressman Ben Quayle: Eric Holder Must Step Down. Still Mum on Joe Arpaio

New TimesCongressman Ben Quayle apparently has no thoughts on Joe Arpaio's several hundred botched sex crime investigations.​Arizona Congressman Ben Quayle today officially joined several other GOP members of Congress in calling for Attorney General Eric Holder to step down over "Fast and Furious, ... More >>

Should Attorney General Eric Holder Resign Over "Fast and Furious" Flub?

​U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is in some hot water over operation "Fast and Furious," the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives botched gun trafficking sting.Last week, U.S. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith wrote a letter to President Barack Obama asking that he ap ... More >>

House Republicans Call For Special Counsel to Determine Whether AG Eric Holder Lied During "Fast and Furious" Testimony

​United States House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith wrote a letter to President Barack Obama today asking that he appoint a special counsel to investigate whether Attorney General Eric Holder lied when he testified before Congress about "Operation Fast and Furious," the Bureau of Alcohol ... More >>

Jan Brewer Stresses Importance of Reading to Lawmakers With Sing-a-Long Featuring Kermit the Frog Knock-Off

This faux-Kermit the Frog is the new face of legislative literacy thanks to Governor Jan Brewer.​Governor Jan Brewer's posted a video on her Facebook page mocking lawmakers who have criticized Arizona's controversial, new immigration law but haven't actually read it -- namely U.S. Attorney General ... More >>

Janet Napolitano Second High-Level Critic of Arizona's Immigration Law to Admit She Hasn't Even Read it

www.motivatedphotos.com​Opponents of Arizona's controversial, new immigration law are probably saying one thing today: Dammit, Janet!Former Arizona Governor and current Homeland Security Chief Janet Napolitano said during a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing yesterday that despite cr ... More >>

Maricopa County Board of Supervisors has No Conflict in County Attorney Replacement Pick, Supes Say

Good to go: County Supervisors decide they have no conflict in deciding who will replace former County Attorney Andrew Thomas.​ We thought it was possible the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors had a conflict of interest in picking a new county attorney, with two of the five having be ... More >>

Joe Arpaio's Longtime Foe Mary Rose Wilcox Earns Supporters' Prayers

courtesy of www.PhotosByJoseMunoz.com Mary Rose Wilcox at St. Anthony's in Phoenix this Monday Long before the judges and lawyers got into the act (excepting such stalwarts as Danny Ortega and Antonio Bustamante, who've been active since the beginning), Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose W ... More >>

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 ... More >>

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 a ... More >>

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 real ... More >>

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. Howeve ... More >>

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

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 thi ... More >>

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 na ... More >>

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 la ... More >>

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 ... More >>

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&nbs ... More >>

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 Wh ... More >>

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 t ... More >>

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 Thur ... More >>

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 rece ... More >>

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 sub ... More >>

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  ... More >>

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 t ... More >>

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 viol ... More >>

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 o ... More >>

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 ... More >>

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 ... More >>

Gone Missing

It may be the end of the road for the Phoenix-based Center for Missing Adults

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

Moral Absurdity

The Arizona Legislature should start caring more about children than zygotes

Security Flap

The lines to get into Maricopa County courthouses are about to get longer.

Locked Up

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

Lock Up, Rub Down

State lawmakers push dubious Mexican drug rehab program

Flashes

FLASHES

SHE FOUGHT THE LAW

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

MEANWHILE, BACK IN THE LOBBY

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