PHOENIX (AP) - Former Sheriff Joe Arpaio has lost a bid to have the U.S. Supreme Court put on hold his criminal trial for disobeying a 2011 court order in a racial profiling case.
The long-shot request was denied Wednesday by Justice Anthony Kennedy.
Arpaio is charged with misdemeanor contempt-of-court for prolonging the patrols for 17 months after he was ordered to stop them.
He is accused of violating the order to keep his name in the news and raise campaign money during his 2012 re-election race.
Closing arguments were completed Thursday at the five-day trial.
U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton didn’t say when she would issue the verdict.
Arpaio insists he didn’t intentionally defy the order and instead blames one of his lawyers for not properly explaining the injunction to him.
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