As protesters took to the streets in several cities to voice their discontent against Wednesday’s court ruling on Arizona’s controversial S.B. 1070 immigration law, the court battle also continued.
The Sun-Sentinel reported on Friday:
U.S. District Court Judge Susan Bolton agreed with the Obama administration that the Arizona law was unconstitutional “on its face,” without waiting for evidence that individuals were hurt or had their rights violated by state officials.
On Thursday, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer asked the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to lift the judge’s order in early September and allow the law to go into effect.
If the state loses before the liberal-leaning 9th Circuit, it is almost sure to appeal to the more conservative Supreme Court.
The outcome there may depend on whether the justices rely on their past precedents on immigration or follow their more recent skepticism toward broad challenges to state laws.
Led by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., the court in the past five years has insisted on narrower, targeted suits that challenge how laws worked in actual practice.
At least five Florida Republican legislators have voiced their support for an Arizona-type law in Florida, and state Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, told The Florida Independent yesterday that he would sponsor such a bill in the next legislative session.
