Has AZ Maricopa County turned into BIZARRO WORLD? Sheriff Arpaio Investigates Judges Who Cross Him?

[Blackhatjack]

First a deputy secretly caught on camera rambles through a defense attorney's file behind her back while she addresses the Court. He then reads and removes papers subject to attorney/client privilege, hands it off to another deputy to be photocopied, and fails to inform the Judge what he is doing even as counsel and the Judge are trying to determine what was taken. Then the deputy refuses to apologize, is held in contempt of court, and the Sheriff fails to book and hold him.

Now we have the same Sheriff going after Judges who ruled in cases against the Sheriff's interests.

Is right now left, and down now up, in Arizona's Maricopa County? Read the whole article....

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/12/pure_intimidation_arpaio_deputies_question_judges.php?ref=fpb

'Pure Intimidation': Arpaio Deputies Question Judges' Assistants In Their Homes

"Sheriff Joe Arpaio has stepped up his brazen campaign to target the local judiciary. Deputies of the Maricopa County, Arizona sheriff went to the homes of assistants to several Superior Court judges, to try to interview them about what Sheriff Joe has asserted -- with little evidence -- is corruption on the part of their bosses, reports the Phoenix New Times.

"It was pure intimidation," one judge told the paper, which suggests Arpaio intended for the assistants to tell their bosses -- the judges -- about the visits, as a way to intimidate the judges. It doesn't sound like Arpaio's crew got much information. The judges' assistants asked them to make appointments at their offices if they wanted to talk.

This wasn't the first time the deputies tried this tactic recently. Over the weekend, they visited the homes of several county employees.

Arpaio is seeking information on what he claims is a bribery and conflict-of-interest scheme involving the building of a local court tower -- a project that many county officials support, but which Arpaio opposes, some say because it would take county resources away from his own office."

MORE

[pissedoff01]

1. Just like a third-world tin pot dictatorship

[Mopar151]

4. That's defamation

Of tin pots, tin, and pot(s).

How many felonies (civil rights, among others) does this moron get to commit before he ends up in the Federal slam? He should be Cheney's cellmate, only 'cuz Charlie Manson is in a Cali. state prision.

[Blackhatjack]

2. Just amazing! Marking Arizona off my vacation list! n/t

[rcrush]

3. Guys like him are reasons why I dont like driving through a small town.

Corrupt Small town sheriffs are commonplace.

[Hawkeye-X]

6. Phoenix is no small town.

It's the 8th largest city in the U.S.

[Mopar151]

7. Depends on where you're at.

And the role Sherrif's play. In NH, they are largely concerned with work for the courts.

And frugal Yankees figured out a long time ago that fools in law enforcement cost them serious money. They need occasional reminding, but still....

A long time ago, when I did'nt know so much, I knew a VT. state cop (pals with my boss at the car lot). I had read about an old police Chief "up noth" paid off to quit, with a year's pay and pensions intact. I asked the Statie about it: "That's cheap money to get rid of that fool! He don't understand that you don't throw people down the stairs or beat the crap out of 'em no more - what they paid him ain't half a lawsuit...."

[Blackhatjack]

5. Why do the voters 'love' Sheriff Arpaio? Seems like he would have worn out his welcome by now

[sasquatch]

8. They are lizard brained desert dwellers

[KamaAina]

9. Well, at least he isn't making them listen to Christmas carols 24/7

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7243753&mesg_id=7243753

Wow! Two Sheriff Joke stories in one day! I smell Top Ten...

[Blackhatjack]

10. I am afraid Sheriff Arpaio is the same one!

He respects the judicial process so much he just ignores the 6 times he was sued before for the same conduct.

[KamaAina]

11. There can be only one...

it's just that he rarely makes it onto DU twice in the same day. A herculean feat of conservative idiocy even for one of the true masters of the genre.

[Umbral]

12. When I moved from Utah to Arizona, I thought I would be moving my clock forward to the 21st century

I was sorely disappointed, it was a lateral move at best.