A frustrated U.S. District Court Judge Murray Snow asked attorneys
last month in the high-profile trial to submit court papers by a
Thursday deadline regarding possible charges that could be leveled
against Arpaio, who bills himself as "America's Toughest Sheriff".
"There is no evidence suggesting that Sheriff Arpaio intentionally
or deliberately violated the court's orders," criminal defense
attorney Mel McDonald said in the filings in Phoenix.
He added that the sheriff admits mistakes were made in communicating
and implementing court orders.
Snow ruled in May 2013 that Arpaio and his Maricopa County Sheriff's
deputies racially profiled Latino drivers for traffic stops and
detained them for too long. Arpaio has appealed against the ruling
and denied that his deputies racially profile.
At a hearing last month, Snow cited instances in which deputies were
not told of the court's order, and where material was not turned
over to Latino drivers' lawyers.
Attorneys representing the plaintiffs had not filed their comments
with the court as of late on Thursday but have said in court that
Arpaio should be held in contempt for repeatedly ignoring court
orders.
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It was not immediately known when Snow would rule.
(Reporting by David Schwartz in Phoenix, Arizona; Editing by Eric M.
Johnson and Edmund Klamann)
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