Pearce wants to defend immigration law in court

Associated Press - July 21, 2010 6:04 AM ET

PHOENIX (AP) - The lawmaker who wrote Arizona's new immigration law fired back at U.S. Justice Department lawyers who asked that he not have a seat at the table in a legal fight over the law's constitutionality.State Sen. Russell Pearce had asked U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton for permission to file a "friend of the court" brief in the Justice Department's lawsuit seeking to overturn the law.

The Justice Department says Pearce's request should be denied because adding a new defendant would needlessly complicate the case.

An attorney for Pearce responded Tuesday by telling the court his client is entitled to assist in the law's defense and that other defendants may not adequately represent Pearce's interests.
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