Brewer to attend high court arguments on AZ law
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December 6, 2010

PHOENIX -- Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer plans to attend a U.S. Supreme Court hearing Wednesday in Washington for arguments on the 2006 state law that punishes employers who knowingly hire workers illegally.

Lower courts have upheld the employer sanctions law that then-Gov. Janet Napolitano signed after it was enacted by the Legislature. Business groups challenged it in court.

Brewer has previously attended federal court hearings in Phoenix and San Francisco on another Arizona immigration-related law. That measure known as SB1070 has provisions on local law enforcement and other subjects. Brewer signed that measure into law in April, but a federal judge has blocked implementation of some key provisions.

The employer sanctions law, formally named the Legal Arizona Workers Act, allows prosecution of employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants. They are required to use the federal E-Verify system to check on new hires.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has been one of the staunchest supporters. He has conducted some 40 raids since the law went into effect Jan. 1, 2008.

Eleven U.S. and Arizona companies are challenging the law, claiming sanctions for employing illegal immigrants should be federal law and that the Arizona law puts an unfair burden on Arizona employers.

Arizona Solicitor General Mary O'Grady will argue before the Supreme Court.

"We obviously feel good about our position," O'Grady told The Arizona Republic. "So far, every judge who has looked at this has accepted our arguments."

Only eight justices will participate in the case. Justice Elena Kagan has recused herself because her former office, that of U.S. solicitor general, asked the high court to consider a challenge to the law.

http://ktar.com