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PHOENIX -- Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio could take the stand today in his racial-profiling trial in federal court.

The civil rights trial against Arpaio accuses him and his department of racially profiling Latinos in Maricopa County.

The class-action suit started with a complaint by a retired Mexican schoolteacher, who was stopped in Arizona in 2007 during one of Arpaio's crime-suppression sweeps.

Arpaio's accusers are not asking for damages, but simply an apology from the department and a change in policy.

Valley attorney Michael Kimerer said the outcome of this trial will serve as a precursor to a U.S. Justice Department case that alleges rampant racial profiling by the sheriff's office.

"If he loses, it is something to be very concerned about because it just adds legally and psychologically and in every way to all of the other cases out there to go against him," Kimerer said.

There is no timetable for when Arpaio may take the stand.

If found guilty, Arpaio will not face jail time or fines.

Jim Cross, Reporter

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4 Comments   |   Join the conversation »
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  • Abuse
    The Chemist wrote...
    some of the questions that a brave
    July 24, 2012 8:54 am
    attorney may ask: (1) Mr. Arpaio, did you or did you not have total control in your department during the so called "crime suppression sweeps" (aka ethnic cleansing activities)? (2) If you claim you did not, why do you say it every time you show your lousy mug on TV? (3) Did you or did you not say that an "illegal immigrant" had brown skin and that was a parameter to measure the stops with?
  • Abuse
    wrote...
    The
    July 24, 2012 9:16 am
    crime data in the areas that had the crime suppression efforts would justify the crime suppression effort locations regardless of who lives in those areas.
  • Abuse
    h8whttrsh wrote...
    whhhhat
    July 24, 2012 11:29 am
    no jail, he broke the law. He commited a crime in USA soil. fat pig should do time. They always let the fat, lazy clueless people out of jail.
  • Abuse
    OneWonders wrote...
    @h8whttrsh
    July 24, 2012 12:10 pm
    Not everyone goes to jail for breaking the law, for committing a crime on USA soil.
    Equal Justice, Not Social Justice.
  • 1

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