Sheriff's lawyer hopes contempt case wraps up soon
PHOENIX - A lawyer for Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has expressed hope that a contempt-of-court case over his client's acknowledged disobedience of court orders in a racial profiling lawsuit could be settled before the lawman undergoes contempt hearings next month.
Arpaio attorney John Masterson says in court Friday that he hopes the contempt case could be resolved through discussions with opposing lawyers over the types of changes that they'll ask a judge to impose against the police agency for the violations.
Cecillia Wang, one of the attorneys pressing the case against the sheriff, says it's difficult to say whether a settlement is likely, considering that Arpaio's office still hasn't handed over all the documents sought in the contempt case.
Arpaio tried unsuccessfully during the spring to settle the contempt allegations.