Attorneys Spar Over Relevance Of 'Incorrect' Arpaio Testimony

Published: Tuesday, March 1, 2016 - 5:44pm
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Paul Atkinson/KJZZ
Joe Arpaio

The federal judge overseeing the civil contempt of court case against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio held a hearing with all the lawyers Tuesday.

Arpaio was not in the courtroom as Judge G. Murray Snow heard arguments about the relevance of several items to the case. One focused on Arpaio’s testimony about a 2007 operation targeting day laborers in Queen Creek.

Snow wrote in a recent order that Arpaio gave the court incorrect information about the sting while under oath.

The plaintiffs said Arpaio’s testimony is relevant because it was an attempt to mislead the court about racial profiling practices. The defense said it is not significant because the raid happened years before Snow ordered Arpaio to stop enforcing federal immigration law.

The second half of the hearing was closed to the public as attorneys argued whether certain documents should remain sealed.

An attorney for the plaintiffs said afterward that Snow did not issue any rulings, nor did he set another court date.