Case: United States v. Maricopa County

2:10-cv-01878 | U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona

Filed Date: Sept. 2, 2010

Closed Date: 2011

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On September 2, 2010, the United States Department of Justice ("DOJ"), Civil Rights Division, filed this lawsuit under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in the United States Court for the District of Arizona, Phoenix Division. The DOJ sought declaratory and injunctive relief, claiming that Maricopa County had violated the Civil Rights Act by failing to comply with a DOJ investigation. Specifically, the DOJ claimed that Maricopa County had refused to comply after a year of being minimally…

On September 2, 2010, the United States Department of Justice ("DOJ"), Civil Rights Division, filed this lawsuit under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in the United States Court for the District of Arizona, Phoenix Division. The DOJ sought declaratory and injunctive relief, claiming that Maricopa County had violated the Civil Rights Act by failing to comply with a DOJ investigation. Specifically, the DOJ claimed that Maricopa County had refused to comply after a year of being minimally cooperative and obstructing the DOJ investigation into the police practices in Maricopa County.

Maricopa County receives federal funds for its Sheriff's Office. Under an implementing regulation, offices that receive financial assistance agree to give the DOJ access to their records and they make contractual agreements to that effect. The DOJ was investigating a violation of the Omnibus Crime Control Act and the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, and had requested documents from the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (MCSO). The DOJ made 51 specific requests. After over a year had passed, the MCSO had only partially complied with 3 of these 51 requests. The DOJ found them to be in violation of Title VI and initiated this lawsuit.

On June 2, 2011, after the parties had both filed motions for summary judgment, a settlement agreement was reached. The agreement granted the DOJ access to the MCSO facilities. Additionally, the MCSO agreed to produce the documents that the DOJ had requested, as well as a blanket agreement to comply with Title VI. On August 1, 2011, the Court (Judge Murray G. Snow) dismissed the case 60 days after a Joint Motion to Remove Case to the Inactive Docket was made.

There is no further activity and this case appears to be closed.

On May 10, 2012, presumably as a result of the continued investigation, the United States filed a lawsuit against Maricopa County in a related case, United States v. Maricopa County, et. Al, docket #2:12-cv-00981-LOA.

Summary Authors

Blase Kearney (5/14/2012)

Richard Jolly (11/22/2014)

Virginia Weeks (10/18/2017)

Related Cases

United States v. Maricopa County, District of Arizona (2012)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4133185/parties/united-states-v-maricopa-county-of/


Judge(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff

Aminfar, Amin (District of Columbia)

Austin, Roy L. (District of Columbia)

Buehler, Brian D. (Arizona)

Burke, Dennis K. (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Ackerman, Justin Michael (Arizona)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

2:10-cv-01878

Docket [PACER]

Aug. 9, 2011

Aug. 9, 2011

Docket

Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office For Refusing Full Cooperation With Title VI Investigation

[Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office]

No Court

Sept. 2, 2010

Sept. 2, 2010

Press Release
1

2:10-cv-01878

Complaint

Sept. 2, 2010

Sept. 2, 2010

Complaint
58

2:12-cv-00981

Joint Motion to Remove Case to the Inactive Docket and Stay Proceedings

June 2, 2011

June 2, 2011

Pleading / Motion / Brief
58

2:10-cv-01878

Joint Motion to Remove Case to the Inactive Docket and Stay Proceedings

June 2, 2011

June 2, 2011

Settlement Agreement

Justice Department Settles Lawsuit with Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office

[Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office]

No Court

June 2, 2011

June 2, 2011

Press Release
65

2:10-cv-01878

Order

Aug. 1, 2011

Aug. 1, 2011

Order/Opinion

Department of Justice Releases Investigative Findings on the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office

[Maricopa County Sheriff's Office]

No Court

Dec. 15, 2011

Dec. 15, 2011

Press Release

2:10-cv-01878

United States' Investigation of the Maricopa County Sheriffs Office

No Court

Dec. 15, 2011

Dec. 15, 2011

Findings Letter/Report

Department of Justice Files Lawsuit in Arizona Against Maricopa County, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, and Sheriff Joseph Arpaio

[Maricopa County Sheriff's Office]

No Court

May 10, 2012

May 10, 2012

Press Release

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4133185/united-states-v-maricopa-county-of/

Last updated Dec. 18, 2024, 6:26 p.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Arizona

Case Type(s):

Policing

Special Collection(s):

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 2, 2010

Closing Date: 2011

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

The United States Department of Justice

Plaintiff Type(s):

U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Maricopa County (Maricopa), County

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Title VI, Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000d et seq.

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Any published opinion

Findings Letter/Report

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Order Duration: 2011 - 2011

Issues

General/Misc.:

Failure to train

Racial profiling

Records Disclosure

Discrimination Basis:

Race discrimination

Policing:

Inadequate citizen complaint investigations and procedures