Arizona

Man Who Shot Rep. Giffords, Killed Chief Judge Roll & 5 Others Is Sentenced to Life in Prison

The Arizona man who admitted going on a shooting rampage in January 2011 that left Chief U.S. District Judge John Roll and five others dead and seriously wounded U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was sentenced to life in prison Thursday. After hearing from victims, U.S. District Judge Larry Burns sentenced Jared…

Nov 8, 2012 7:56 PM CST

Critical of Claims Based on ‘Sheer Speculation’, Federal Judge Nixes Suit Against Billionaire Banker

A federal judge in New York has tossed a fraud lawsuit that alleged a banker conspired with others to forge the signature of a dying cousin to protect a ranch in Arizona from a creditor. U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon in Manhattan characterized aspects of the suit against Herbert A.…

Sep 28, 2012 11:02 AM CDT

Federal Judge Says Ariz. Can Enforce ‘Show Papers’ Law; Top Pa. Court Calls for More Voter ID Review

Ruling this week on a controversial state law requiring individuals to provide identification, a federal judge in Arizona has OK’d a so-called “show me your papers” provision allowing authorities to check the identities of those thought to be possible illegal immigrants. However, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has asked a Commonwealth…

Sep 19, 2012 9:23 PM CDT

IG Report Blames DOJ Prosecutors, ATF Agents for ‘Fast and Furious,’ Seeks Discipline Probe of 14

In a scathing report made public Wednesday about the botched Operation Fast and Furious federal gun trafficking investigation, an inspector general of the U.S. Department of Justice called for disciplinary reviews of 14 current and former employees. In the report (PDF), inspector general Michael Horowitz put primary blame on what…

Sep 19, 2012 8:45 PM CDT

Woman Groped by Cop Objects to Judge’s Advice on Visiting Bars and Grocery Stores

An Arizona judge has apologized for her courtroom advice on the perils of visiting bars, given to a woman who was groped by an off-duty police officer. Judge Jacqueline Hatch of Coconino County sentenced the officer, Robb Gary Evans, to probation after jurors found him guilty of sexual abuse, the…

Sep 10, 2012 10:30 AM CDT

Longest-Serving Female Prisoner Is Freed

Betty Smithey, who served 49 years behind bars and had the distinction of being the nation’s longest-serving female inmate, is now free. Smithey, sentenced to life without parole for the murder of a 15-month-old Phoenix girl in 1963, had been granted clemency by Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer in June and…

Aug 14, 2012 2:41 PM CDT

Law Profs, Rights Groups Back Call for En Banc Review re Pro Bono Lawyer Sanctioned by 9th Circuit

A coalition of public interest groups and two law professors are supporting a call for en banc review of sanctions imposed on an Arizona pro bono attorney in a blistering opinion by a federal appeals court panel. In a June 21 opinion (PDF), the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals…

Aug 7, 2012 1:54 PM CDT

Possible Plea by Suspect in Slaying of Chief Ariz. District Judge to Be Mulled in Tuesday Hearing

A plea bargain has reportedly been reached concerning the suspect in the 2011 murder of Arizona’s chief federal district court judge and five others in a shopping-mall shooting spree that also severely injured a member of Congress and led to her eventual resignation. But there are still a number of…

Aug 7, 2012 12:23 PM CDT

9th Circuit Temporarily Blocks Arizona Abortion Law

A federal appeals court has temporarily blocked enforcement of a controversial new Arizona law that would ban most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. On Wednesday, the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted (PDF) a request by opponents of the new law to temporarily halt enforcement of…

Aug 2, 2012 10:12 PM CDT

Maricopa County Sheriff Denies Profiling, Blames Co-Author for Anti-Immigrant Statements

Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, Ariz., testified in a class action suit on Tuesday that his department doesn’t arrest people “because of the color of their skin.” Arpaio testified in a suit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of all Latinos arrested by the sheriff’s department…

Jul 25, 2012 12:22 PM CDT

Fennemore Craig Adds 23 Lawyers From Nevada’s Jones Vargas

After a number of defections, remaining partners at the Nevada-based Jones Vargas decided to get serious about recruiting more lawyers. But instead, they got recruited themselves. As of July 1, a total of 23 lawyers from the firm joined Fennemore Craig, which will now be known in Nevada as Fennemore…

Jul 9, 2012 8:34 PM CDT

Federal Judge Says Kosher Deli Can Keep ‘Heart Attack’ Items On Menu, Add Triple Bypass Sandwich

A federal judge in Manhattan has sided with a New York delicatessen that filed a declaratory judgment action seeking a ruling that it could continue to offer a menu of “heart attack” themed high-calorie selections without violating the Lanham Act. Although the Arizona-based Heart Attack Grill has trademarked both its…

Jul 9, 2012 3:32 PM CDT

Greenberg Traurig, Quarles to Pay $88M to Settle Suit by Mortgage Investors

Greenberg Traurig and Quarles & Brady have agreed to pay $88 million to settle a suit by investors who claim losses in an alleged $900 million Ponzi scheme run by a mortgage company. Greenberg will pay $61 million and Quarles will pay $26.5 million, report Reuters and the Milwaukee Journal…

Jun 22, 2012 11:34 AM CDT

Arizona Governor Wants Cops Trained and Ready for Immigration Ruling

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer wants police to be ready if the U.S. Supreme Court upholds the state’s controversial immigration law. The high court could rule as early as Monday, the Arizona Republic reports. In anticipation of the decision, Brewer ordered a state board on Tuesday to redistribute a training video…

Jun 13, 2012 4:07 PM CDT

Should Law Grads Be Billed as Associates Before Passing Bar? Issue Raised in Ogletree Suit

Updated: Maricopa County has taken a new tack in its billing dispute with Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak and Stewart. A counterclaim (PDF) filed by the county is a would-be class action filed on behalf of any public sector clients that have been overbilled by the firm. According to the countersuit,…

Jun 13, 2012 12:50 PM CDT