The U.S. Department of Justice’s civil rights lawsuit against Maricopa County is scheduled to go to trial in August.
But some want to see the county settle the suit to save taxpayer money.
One of the main points the trial will cover is whether Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and the Sheriff’s Office retaliated against critics with baseless criminal investigations. Arpaio and the former County Attorney tried to bring corruption charges against several county officials that were later thrown out. One of those targeted was former County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox.
And while Wilcox wants to see reform at the Sheriff’s Office, she doesn’t want this to go to trial.
“What I am thinking of is Maricopa County and the taxpayers,” Wilcox said. “Why go to trial and spend millions of more dollars? Why not just tell Arpaio, ‘no.’”
Wilcox said even if the sheriff wants to fight in court, the county supervisors should insist on settling with the Department of Justice. She would like to see a settlement that would give an independent monitor even more power over the sheriff’s office.
Wilcox herself won a million-dollar settlement after she sued over the sheriff’s corruption investigations.