Arizona Capitol Times Your Inside Source for Arizona Government, Politics and Business

It was the afternoon of Dec. 8, 2009, and Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas and his deputy, Lisa Aubuchon, wanted Judge Gary Donahoe off the bench before he heard a case scheduled for the next morning.

An independent investigator is seeking the disbarment of former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas and one of his deputies on allegations they abused their prosecutorial powers by retaliating and intimidating Thomas’ enemies.

An investigator appointed by the Arizona Supreme Court will release findings today of an investigation into alleged ethical violations of Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas and two of his former deputies. At stake are their licenses to practice law.

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.

The U.S. Supreme Court said Nov. 29 it will consider dismantling an Arizona rule that gives extra money to publicly funded candidates who face privately funded rivals.

Newly appointed Arizona Supreme Court Justice Robert Brutinel, a Republican, will bring his rural roots and trial court experience to the bench. He edged out finalists Ann Scott Timmer, a Republican, and Diane Johnsen, a Democrat.

The leader of a Latino advocacy group has sued the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office on allegations that deputies illegally arrested him while he stood watching a protest in the days immediately following a judge's ruling on SB1070.

A lawyer for Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is asking a federal judge to forbid the public release of videos of depositions by nine sheriff's officials in a lawsuit that accuses deputies of racially profiling Hispanics in immigration patrols.

Trial dates have been set for two of the three inmates who escaped from the Kingman state prison and their alleged accomplice.

A southern Arizona tribe planning to build a casino resort in suburban Glendale already used up a federal allotment being invoked to acquire the site, according to a new court filing by a tribe that already operates casinos in the Phoenix area.