Federal Judge: Arpaio “lied to my face” It has been a long road for everyone involved in what began as a racial profiling case in federal court in Phoenix. And it’s not over yet! The latest development in the case came last week, when United States District Judge Murray Snow considered whether to recommend that […]
Arizona Sheriff Could Face Criminal Charges Read More »
It’s not every day that you read a statement by a federal judge describing government actions of any kind as “absurd.” But that is word used by United States Magistrate David K. Duncan after his review of a proposed plan by the Department of Corrections to improve health care in Arizona’s prisons. The genesis of
U.S. Judge: Arizona Prison Health Care Plan “Absurd” Read More »
The case against the man charged with a number of the freeway shootings in Phoenix has fallen apart. After being arrested in September of last year, and spending seven months behind bars, the charges against Leslie Merritt, Jr. have been dismissed. You’ll recall that there were a series of unsolved shootings on the Interstate 10
Case Dismissed against Freeway Shooting Suspect Read More »
Back in 1963, a fellow named Ernesto Miranda was arrested in Phoenix in connection with rape and kidnapping charges. While in police custody, Miranda was interrogated, and he eventually confessed and was convicted. Miranda had never been told that he had the right to a lawyer, or that he had the right to remain silent.
“Miranda Warning” Turns 50 Read More »
A federal judge has issued a stay effectively halting, at least for a time, any executions under Arizona’s death penalty law. The ruling involves an anti-anxiety drug (midazolam) used by the state as a sedative in connection with an execution. A lawsuit claims that the drug is unreliable, and that instead of reducing anxiety, it
Arizona Death Penalty – More and More Questions Read More »
In a case that is receiving wide attention in the news, the Arizona Supreme Court has limited the immunity of a doctor who prescribes medical marijuana. One of the provisions of the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act (A.R.S. 36:2811C) states that a physician cannot be prosecuted, penalized, or disciplined solely because the physician certified that a
Doctor Faces Criminal Prosecution in Medical Marijuana Sting Read More »
Charges against Leslie Merritt, Jr., labeled a “domestic terrorist” by the police, will be dismissed, according to a motion filed late last week by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. Merritt was facing charges of drive-by shooting and aggravated assault, among others, in connection with shootings that took place on Phoenix freeways, where 11 vehicles were
Charges against “freeway shooter” to be dropped! Read More »
An appeals court has directed that a man convicted of a 1990 sexual assault and murder receive a new hearing to determine whether police misconduct may have tainted the conviction. A number of arguments were made by death row inmate Michael Gallegos in his habeas corpus hearing before a panel of the 9th U. S.
Death Row Inmate Gets Another Chance . . . Maybe Read More »
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey signed a bill (HR 2001) into law last week that makes it a felony to disclose a nude image of another person, or an image showing specific sexual activities, without that person’s consent, where the purpose is to harass, intimidate, threaten or coerce the person depicted. The law amends A.R.S. 13-1425,
Arizona enacts “revenge porn” law Read More »
Much has been written in recent years about self-defense. A lot of the articles, particularly since the Zimmerman case in Florida, focus on so-called “stand your ground” laws. These are laws that provide, generally, that if you reasonably believe that your life is in danger, you are legally permitted to use deadly force against the
Self-Defense Issues in Pima County Shooting Read More »
