PHOENIX (AP) — A judge who had ruled that the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office racially profiled Latinos in its patrols is scheduled to hear arguments Tuesday over a request to award $6.7 million in fees to the attorneys who won the case.
The attorneys who pressed the case against Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s office say the fee request is reasonable given that they spent nearly six years litigating the case, including trial preparation, the trial itself, appeals and post-verdict proceedings.
Arpaio’s attorneys say the requested amount was excessive and have asked U.S. District Judge Murray Snow to drastically reduce the amount sought by the opposing lawyers.
Fifteen months ago, Snow ruled the sheriff’s office has systematically racially profiled Latinos in its immigration and regular traffic patrols.
Arpaio is appealing the ruling.
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