Legislature Becomes Party in Immigration Case

Updated: Tuesday, 05 Apr 2011, 5:28 PM MDT
Published : Tuesday, 05 Apr 2011, 5:28 PM MDT

PHOENIX (AP) — A judge granted a request by the Arizona Legislature to let lawmakers help defend the state's immigration enforcement law from a challenge by the federal government.

U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton says in a ruling Tuesday that the Legislature's participation won't delay the U.S. Justice of Department's lawsuit that seeks to invalidate the law.

Attorneys representing the Legislature argued lawmakers should be made a party to the case because they have unique insight into the law's creation.

Justice Department lawyers contended that the Legislature's participation would prolong the case and that lawyers for Gov. Jan Brewer and the state Attorney General's Office were already adequately representing the state's interest.

The most controversial parts of the law were put on hold by Bolton in July.

Brewer is appealing that ruling.

http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/im ... t-4-5-2011