The much disputed Arizona SB 1070 goes back to court today on appeal. Federal Judge Bolton shot down several aspects of the law several months ago. The major component of the law that was blocked deals with police officers being allowed to question anyone they had have reasonable suspicious about being in the country illegally. According to the Washington Post:
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit will hear Arizona’s appeal of a lower-court ruling that blocked the most-contested provisions of the law from taking effect. The law, signed in April by Gov. Jan Brewer (R), empowers police to question people whom they have a “reasonable suspicion” of being in the country illegally.
Amid a fierce debate over the measure, the Justice Department sought to overturn the law by taking the rare step of suing Arizona. Government attorneys won the first round in July when U.S. District Judge Susan R. Bolton, seated in Phoenix, put on hold provisions that would require police to check immigration status if they stop someone while enforcing other laws, allow for warrantless arrests of suspected illegal immigrants and criminalize the failure of legal immigrants to carry their registration papers.
The case will be heard by a 3 judge panel. 2 judges were appointed bya Republican and 1 by a Democrat. Either Arizona or the U.S. government can appeal the panel’s decision. Should that happen the case will go to the full 9th Circuit Court. The WaPo further adds:
Brewer, whose outspoken criticism of the federal lawsuit has helped her popularity at home, has vowed to take her appeal of the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court. The 9th Circuit hearing in San Francisco is the next step, and legal experts say the case likely will wind up before the high court within several years.
The lawsuit ratcheted up the political and legal debate over the nation’s estimated 12 million illegal immigrants, with Republicans condemning the administration and civil rights groups praising it for fighting a law that they contend targets Hispanics.
Talk of immigration has receded somewhat in the runup to the elections, especially compared to the economy, but it has been a key factor in a number of races. Monday’s argument, which Brewer plans to attend, will shine an even brighter light on the issue.
Perhaps all will become quiet once this election is over. Arizona has problems for sure. So does California, New Mexico and Texas. The drug violence along the border towns in Mexico continues to rage on. Our border states must be vigilant that the violence doesn’t creep or stampede into our country. However, SB 1070 isn’t the way to stop the drug violence and that is what Arizona should be worried about.
Probable cause as a police tool is always rife with problems. There are other ways, such as PWC recently found out, that are far better. And like PWC, Arizona probably doesn’t have the money to waste on endless lawsuits.
I’ll say just this – being here in AZ I’m tired of hearing the political ads about it from BOTH sides, Republican and Democrat. It will be good when the election is over with and I can stop hearing all the stupid ads on the radio already. Haven’t turned on the TV since I’ve been here but I’m inundated with political ads about it every time I turn on the radio in the car.
I guess I don’t understand why they are still talking about sb 1070. Its out of the state’s hands now and in the hands of the courts.
I guess it will dry up after tomorrow.
Do you hear anything about PW’s now? Very little. Now it might come back to life next year…..election year…which will make my point.
Corey might rise up with his initiative…that he is not in elected position to implement…since he made the montage of shame at the Jon Stewart Rally. A hate-biter?
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Thought this was interesting from an advocacy group:
“On Friday, thousands of us demanded that the Department of Justice (DOJ) send officials to monitor tomorrow’s election, to protect Arizona voters from Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s “grassroots army” set on intimidating voters. It worked!
The DOJ announced that they would, in fact, send election monitors to 30 places, including Maricopa County. Thank you. Now, we’ve got to make sure everyone we know has the information they need to get out there and vote tomorrow.”
I’m thinking they’ll still be talking about SB 1070 plenty out here after the election. The soldiers here are talking about it, and most of them (even the young ones) are for it, at least in my small sample set. I’ve overheard them talking about it – I haven’t really joined in as I’m sort of tired of all the talk of it. There’s a lot of angry people out here – let’s just put it that way. I don’t see SB 1070 disappearing from the headlines out here anytime soon. Yes, it is in the courts, but people are anxious to see how it gets decided, how soon the courts will act on it, etc. etc. etc. Maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t think all of the sudden people are going to stop caring after the election. It’s a huge issue out here – I would hazard to guess a much larger issue than it ever was in PWC. As a result, people are really stirred up about it, on BOTH sides. Of course, that ‘s my impression formed after just being here for 2 weeks, so I could be completely wrong.
@GR,
It might be interesting to ask them what they thought SB 1070 is going to do for them. What will their police do with those they catch if ICE wont come pick them up? Doi they think they are going to get them deported? Let me know how that works out for them.
Wow, there is a shocker regarding the “reasonable cause” mandate in SB1070 and the courts having issue with that particular part of the legislation….NOT. It wasn’t going to work in PWC and it won’t work anywhere else. When will politicans stop wasting taxpayer money, stop riling up citizens, and actually work towards positive solutions that we can all feel comfortable with.