Arizona

Sheriff Wins Suits Challenging Jailhouse Christmas Music

The controversial Arizona sheriff who has filed a racketeering lawsuit against the Maricopa superior court is waging a legal battle on a different front, this one over holiday music. Sheriff Joe Arpaio has ordered the county jails to play holiday music 12 hours a day, prompting lawsuits from six Maricopa…

Dec 18, 2009 3:39 PM CST

Paper: War Over $340M Court Tower Threatens Rule of Law in Ariz. County

In an escalating yearlong war between government officials in Arizona’s Maricopa County, the sheriff and a local prosecutor are now accusing all members of the governing body, at least four judges, multiple administrators and two lawyers of corruption concerning the construction of a $340 million court office tower. But, based…

Dec 17, 2009 12:51 AM CST

New Turmoil in Embattled Ariz. County as Appeals Court Bans Sheriff from Searching Judge’s Computers

In the latest turmoil in an Arizona county in which the sheriff’s office and a government lawyer are virtually at war with members of the judiciary and elected officials, a state appeals court has issued a temporary restraining order barring the execution of a search warrant on the home and…

Dec 12, 2009 1:22 AM CST

Criminal Case Against Ariz. Judge Raises Questions About Prosecution

After yesterday’s announcement of felony charges against the presiding criminal court judge in Maricopa County, some lawyers in Arizona are questioning the ethics of a county attorney involved in bringing the charges and even calling for outside intervention. Such prosecutions of a judge over his rulings on assigned cases are…

Dec 11, 2009 1:57 AM CST

Judge Criminally Charged re Court Rulings in Battle for Control of Ariz. County

A sitting Arizona judge has been charged with three major felonies, apparently at least partly in connection with his court rulings concerning a battle among local officials for control of Maricopa County and an ongoing dispute over the construction of a $340 million court tower. Although news coverage is sketchy…

Dec 10, 2009 12:36 AM CST

Deputy Who Took PD’s Document Is in Jail, But Is He in a Cell?

A Phoenix-area courtroom officer who took a public defender’s document is in jail for refusing to apologize, but it’s not clear if he is in a jail cell. Adam Stoddard was ordered to publicly apologize for taking the document or to report to jail. He chose the second option. Stoddard…

Dec 4, 2009 4:41 PM CST

Officer Who Took Lawyer’s Paperwork Reports to Jail

A Phoenix-area courtroom officer who inexplicably took paperwork from a defense lawyer’s files mid-hearing in October has reported to jail rather than apologize. Adam Stoddard self-surrendered at 6 p.m. Tuesday to the Maricopa County jail, reports ABC 15. Stoddard was found in contempt of court for his actions on Oct.…

Dec 2, 2009 6:46 PM CST

Deputy Who Took Lawyer’s Paperwork Ordered to Jail

A deputy sheriff’s officer in Maricopa County must report to jail today or a bench warrant will be issued for his arrest. Maricopa County Superior Court spokeswoman Karen Arra told ABC 15 that Adam Stoddard must report to the jail in downtown Phoenix. Stoddard had been ordered to hold a…

Dec 1, 2009 5:30 PM CST

Ex-Milberg Partner William Lerach Moved to a Halfway House

Former Milberg partner William Lerach, imprisoned after pleading guilty to paying kickbacks to lead plaintiffs in class actions, has been moved to a halfway house. Lerach was transferred to the halfway house a couple months ago and has served most of his two-year sentence, according to Reuters. He is expected…

Oct 15, 2009 11:46 AM CDT

Five-Lawyer Greenberg Group Leaves BigLaw to Join Ariz.-Based Firm

Five lawyers have leapt from the Phoenix office of Greenberg Traurig to a 100-attorney Arizona-based law firm. Those headed to Gallagher and Kennedy include John Clemency, the only Greenberg Traurig partner in Phoenix a bankruptcy practice, reports the National Law Journal in an article reprinted in New York Lawyer (reg.…

Aug 21, 2009 9:20 PM CDT

Ariz. Sheriff Seizes County Computers Without Warrant

Initially, Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, Ariz., filed suit against the county’s Board of Supervisors to attempt to gain control over computers in another county office containing criminal justice information. But when the case wasn’t immediately resolved to his satisfaction he sent over his deputies to seize the computers…

Aug 17, 2009 9:31 PM CDT

Ariz. AG Lays Off 12 Lawyers, 17 Staff

In another sign of the dismal economic times, the Arizona attorney general’s office is axing 12 lawyers and 17 staff members to close a $2 million budget gap. The layoffs were announced today by the Attorney General Terry Goddard and will take effect July 31, reports the Phoenix Business Journal.…

Jul 20, 2009 8:28 PM CDT

School’s Strip Search of Girl Illegal, High Court Rules

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled today that an Arizona school’s strip search of a teenager accused of dispensing prescription-strength pills was illegal. On that, eight justices agreed (PDF). Safford Middle School officials crossed a line when they searched Savana Redding’s underwear. Justice Clarence Thomas was the only dissent. What was…

Jun 25, 2009 3:19 PM CDT

Snell & Wilmer Cuts Associate Pay by 10%

The 425-lawyer firm Snell & Wilmer has joined the field of firms targeting compensation to reduce costs. It will cut associate salaries by 10 percent. The Phoenix Business Journal reports that the firm held meetings to announce the reductions on June 16. The firm also announced it would be paying…

Jun 24, 2009 11:41 AM CDT

Fennemore Craig Lets 10 Staff Go, Following Earlier Lawyer Layoffs

After laying off seven lawyers in February, Fennemore Craig has now let go about 10 staff members. Tim Berg, who is managing director of the 200-attorney western regional firm, confirmed the layoffs to the Phoenix Business Journal and says most of the cuts were in Fennemore’s Phoenix headquarters. However, the…

May 13, 2009 8:26 PM CDT