Nov 10, 5:58 PM EST

Court has no ban on terms like 'illegal aliens'

By ARTHUR H. ROTSTEIN
Associated Press Writer

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- A Hispanic lawyers group has asked Arizona's chief justice to end state court use of words its members consider inflammatory, such as "illegal aliens."

A court spokeswoman says there has been no ban on words, nor is Chief Justice Ruth McGregor considering one.

Arizona Supreme Court communications director Cari Gerchick says McGregor gave top judicial officials statewide the request to let them know of the concerns of the Phoenix-based Los Abogados Hispanic Bar Association.

However, the Washington-based watchdog organization Judicial Watch insists McGregor's letter replying to the bar group supports a ban.

But Gerchick said there was no subliminal message. She says McGregor issues policy decisions only through administrative orders, and there is no administrative order on the issue.

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