Thread: Arpaio to appeal ruling, fight for visitation limits

Arpaio to appeal ruling, fight for visitation limits

PHOENIX — Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio plans to appeal a court ruling on visiting hours for attorneys and other legal defense personnel meeting with inmates in the county jails.

Arpaio said lawyers for the Sheriff’s Office will file a petition for special action with the Arizona Court of Appeals, asking that the Dec. 7 ruling by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Anna Baca be overturned.

Baca also denied a motion for a stay of the order pending the appeal by the Sheriff’s Office.

As a cost-cutting measure, Arpaio decided Nov. 2 to limit visits by attorneys and other court personnel to 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Previously, such privileged visits were allowed as late as 9 p.m..

Changing visitation hours would save about $900,000 a year, and Sheriff’s Office officials said attorneys still can use phone and video conferencing at other hours and offered to make special arrangements on a case-by-case basis.

Defense attorneys, probation officers and psychologists filed motions in Superior Court saying the new hours jeopardized the inmates’ constitutional right to counsel.

Baca issued a temporary order last Wednesday restoring the broader hours and sending the opposing sides into mediation.
http://oneoldvet.com/?p=4122
http://www.azstarnet.com/news/216364

Well now, we wouldn't want to do anything to save taxpayers any money would we.

The lawyers big worries are the ability to charge those "after office hour fees".