Maricopa County Sheriff faces contempt hearing in profiling case

PHOENIX (AP) - An Arizona sheriff faces a civil contempt hearing in federal court in April for his office's repeated violations of orders issued in a racial-profiling case.

U.S. District Judge Murray Snow in 2013 ruled that Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's office had systematically singled out Latinos in regular traffic and special immigration patrols.

Snow scheduled the April 21-24 proceeding in an order issued Thursday. He had previously signaled he intended to schedule the hearing,.

The judge's order Thursday said the plaintiffs in the case had provided evidence that Arpaio, his office and top aides had violated orders in the case.

Snow on Thursday also scheduled a Feb. 27 hearing on preparations for the contempt hearing and on Arpaio's request for a closed-door settlement conference in the case.