Published: 01.14.2008

Judge throws out affidavits in state employer sanctions case
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
PHOENIX — Business groups seeking to overturn Arizona’s employer sanctions law lost a bid to keep secret the identities of three people who said they employed illegal immigrants.
As a result, affidavits by the three, who were added to the lawsuit to show that the new law could cause harm, were thrown out on Monday.
The groups had sought to keep their names private, while the state Attorney General’s Office wanted the names to be revealed.
The groups had said the argument against their request to keep the names private is now moot, because prosecutors wouldn’t contest their legal standing to challenge the law.
The groups said the affidavits were meant to confront questions about their legal standing.
U.S. District Judge Neil Wake says the business groups, by arguing that the request to keep the names secret was moot, have in effect withdrawn the request.
Wake will hear more arguments in the case on Wednesday.
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/printDS/220461