PHOENIX - A federal judge has rejected former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's request for a jury trial in his criminal-contempt case.
The case is now set for a bench trial before Judge Susan Bolton, scheduled to start April 25.
Arpaio's attorneys had argued for a jury trial so they could question the motives of the judge who referred the criminal-contempt charge for trial. They suggested Federal Judge Murray Snow's anger at Arpaio had led to the referral.
Arpaio is charged with intentionally ignoring Snow's orders in a long-running racial-profiling case.
U.S. Justice Department prosecutors said Arpaio wanted the political spectacle that a jury trial would bring. But the law, they said, didn't grant Arpaio a right to a jury trial.
In her one-page order, Judge Susan Bolton agreed with the prosecution, noting there is no right to a jury trial if the potential sentence is six months or less. The maximum sentence for criminal contempt is six months in prison.
Bolton also dismissed Arpaio's claims that there would be an "appearance of impropriety" in a bench trial.
"This Court does not believe there is any such appearance," Bolton said.
The 84-year-old Arpaio lost his bid for a seventh term in office last November. He was handily defeated by Democrat Paul Penzone.
Since this is a criminal case, Arpaio, not the county, has to pay for his own defense.