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Court requires lawyers to chime in on Joe Arpaio’s pardon

(Ross D. Franklin | The Associated Press) In this May 17, 2018, photo, Republican Senate candidates Kelli Ward, left, and former Maricopa Country Sheriff Joe Arpaio, right, listen to a question from the audience as the candidates talk about their platform policies at a Scottsdale Tea Party event in Scottsdale, Ariz. Arizona conservatives are torn between two icons of their movement — Arpaio and former state senator Ward — in the GOP Senate primary.

Phoenix • Attorneys involved in litigation over former Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s pardon will have to tell a court whether a special prosecutor is needed to handle an appeal of the clemency.

A panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals had previously ordered the appointment of a prosecutor to defend a ruling that dismissed the case yet didn’t erase Arpaio’s record.

An order issued Friday said a 9th Circuit judge has asked for a larger panel of the appeals court to consider the issue.

Arpaio was convicted of contempt of court for disobeying a judge’s order in an immigration case.

Lawyers are required to chime in on the issue by June 22.