By JACQUES BILLEAUD
Associated Press
PHOENIX (AP) - A forthcoming U.S. Supreme Court decision on Arizona's controversial immigration law - which some experts believe could uphold the most controversial aspects of the measure - won't end legal disputes on the matter and instead is likely to ignite renewed assaults by the law's opponents.
The court is evaluating the 2010 law on only the question of whether Arizona's attempt to fix its border problems is trumped by federal law. That means that opponents could still ask the courts to block enforcement of the law on other legal grounds.
For example, the high court isn't considering the possibility that racial profiling may arise from the law - because the Obama administration's lawsuit didn't challenge it on those grounds. The administration focused instead on whether federal law supersedes the state law, an issue known as "pre-emption."
"All the court is going to decide is the pre-emption issue," said Linton Joaquin, general counsel for the National Immigration Law Center, an advocacy group for low-income immigrants that's part of a coalition of opponents that filed a separate challenge. "But we think this law basically requires racial profiling by mandating that officers detain and investigate people that they have reasonable suspicions of being unauthorized."
The case was argued before the high court in April, and a ruling is expected by the end of June. Based partly on skeptical questions posed by justices during the hearing, legal experts expect that the court likely will uphold Arizona's requirement that police check the immigration status of people they stop for other reasons; that provision was put on hold by a judge in July 2010 and hasn't yet been enforced. Less controversial parts of the law were allowed to take effect.
A decision in favor of Arizona could clear the way for other states to enforce immigration-check requirements and create an opening for states to take a larger role in immigration enforcement after mostly staying out of it for decades and letting the federal government handle it alone.
Five others states - Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, South Carolina and Utah - have enacted similar laws.
If Arizona wins at the Supreme Court, opponents say they likely would go back to lower courts to seek injunctions on other grounds before any provisions that win approval from the Supreme Court take effect. They also may ask the courts to block enforcement of the law's most controversial parts by arguing that the law requires police to extend the length of time of traffic stops beyond the permitted time.
"We are preparing for the next step in case of a bad decision," said Andre Segura, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union, which also is fighting the law in court.
Segura said it's unlikely that a Supreme Court decision that upholds the Arizona law would go into effect immediately. Instead, the case would probably be given back to lower courts to decide when it takes effect, though it's unclear how long it would take for the courts to decide when police can start enforcing the provision.
It's also unclear when similar laws in other states would take effect if the court rules in Arizona's favor. Those states will likely have to take up the issue in their respective courts to see how their laws - which have different provisions on the questioning of people's immigration status - square up with the Supreme Court's ruling, Segura said.
Lawyers who are fighting the law aren't the only opponents preparing themselves for a ruling that upholds the law.
Immigrant rights advocates plan to launch a public relations campaign in hopes of quelling fears about the law and hold public meetings across the state to explain the law. They also are planning protests and a bus tour across the country to protest Arizona-style immigration laws. And hotline run by a civil rights group will take questions about the law and document reports of abuses by police.
Meanwhile, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio - who, more than any other police boss in Arizona, has pushed the bounds of local immigration enforcement - said he has no plans to expand his immigration efforts if Arizona wins its appeal. "I really don't see any big change with me," Arpaio said, adding that his officers already ask people for their immigration status when they have a good reason to do so.
The U.S. Justice Department has accused Arpaio's office in a lawsuit of racially profiling Latinos in his trademark immigration patrols. The sheriff vigorously disputes the allegation.
Along the Arizona-Mexico border, Santa Cruz County Sheriff Tony Estrada doubted his deputies will need to undergo special training to enforce the law's questioning requirement. He said his deputies, who now call the U.S. Border Patrol to pose such questions, would instead inquire about people's status and, if needed, call federal agents for assistance.
Estrada, who has 37 deputies to patrol a county that shares 50 miles of border with Mexico, said he will have to balance enforcement of the law with his limited manpower.
"We will enforce based on our resources and priorities," Estrada said. "In other words, I am not going to be sending a squad to do that. I don't have a squad to do that."
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Source: www.msnbc.msn.com
Northants v Essex: Bopara hits second century in a week - BBC News
Ravi Bopara scored his second century in a week as Essex and Northants played out a draw in the County Championship.
Bopara, who hit 120 in Essex's CB40 victory over Gloucestershire on Monday, made 174 and shared a fifth-wicket stand of 294 with James Foster (135).
Essex declared on 400-6 as David Willey took 3-74 for the hosts.
James Middlebrook (100) then became the game's third centurion as the captains shook hands on a draw the moment Northants reached 200-3 in reply.
Earlier, Bopara and Foster's partnership surpassed the previous record fifth-wicket stand for Essex against Northants of 147, made between Mark Pettini and Matt Walker in this fixture last season.
Northants take six points from the game and are fourth in the Division Two table, while Essex gained nine points and lie seventh.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Gwyneth Paltrow promotes her brother-in-law - Daily Telegraph
That was, however, two years ago and Russell Beale concedes that the announcement by Sir Nicholas Hytner, the boss of the National, was a little premature, not least because he had only lately played Hamlet.
Russell Beale says he believes Mendes had got it into his head he would make a good Lear when he saw how the make-up artists had aged him for his performance in The Life of Galileo in 2006.
“We were having a drink afterwards, and he said: 'I really do think we should do King Lear before it is too late.’ I said: 'I am 44.’”
For all that, Russell Beale says the idea is “still there”. But don’t hold your breath.
Man of the world
Mandrake was interested to hear Alan Cumming, appearing in Question Time this week in Inverness, announce during a discussion about the question of Scottish independence: “I do pay tax in this country, I am a citizen of this country, I am a resident of this country.”
Panelists on the show always try to find common ground with the audience, but the truth in the 47-year-old actor’s case is somewhat more complicated. In 2008, Cumming became a dual-national and was sworn in as an American citizen at a ceremony in New York City. In 2012, he announced that he would be returning to live in Scotland so as to be eligible to vote in the referendum on independence, which is scheduled to be held in 2014. His spokesman declines to comment on the matter.
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Essex Relay: Part 1 - Celebrates its 20th Anniversary - Examiner
Relay for Life is a huge, fun fundraising endeavor for the American Cancer Society (ACS). Having begun in Tacoma, Wa. by just one man, “Relay” is now history. It is celebrated by more than 3.5 million people in 5,000 communities and 20 different countries. One of the east Baltimore County events, has been held on the campus of the Community Colleges of Baltimore County (CCBC) Essex Campus since 1993. Thousands of supporters, advocates and patients have walked the track throughout the night for each of the past 20 years, raising more than a million dollars... possibly closer to two million!
The 2012 Essex Relay raised over $81,000 before the start of the event on Friday, June 8. Thousands more was turned in as teams registered, updated their team donations, participated in the Silent Auction and continued their fundraising efforts throughout the night's event. As this article goes to press, the Essex Relay page indicates a total of $85,800 in donations. That total will continue to grow as teams update the funds from their participants and as others continue to donate on the website.
The Essex Relay had 36 registered teams, with just 412 participants this year. Team “Hope Hunters” raised $13,847! Team “Walking Angels” has participated from the beginning with its four primary team members, Jean, Ann, Marge and Elaine – four sisters, all cancer survivors and dedicated supporters of the American Cancer Society and Relay for Life.
Team “Because of Joyce” was one of several first-time-participants. Nancy was a best friend to Joyce who died of lung cancer in February. Nancy saw a television commercial for Relay for Life shortly after Joyce's funeral. She decided then to honor her friend by participating in this awesome event. With 17 members, the team raised over $2,000, an awesome effort for a brand new team.
The Essex Relay began on Friday, June 8 with a survivors dinner at 5 p.m., opening ceremonies at 7 p.m. and so much more before closing ceremonies at 6 a.m. on Saturday, June 9. A series of articles will follow to highlight many of the special events, guest speakers and fun activities that occurred during this historical milestone.
If you would like to donate to the Essex Relay visit the website now and click on donate. You can donate the overall event, to a specific team or team member. All monies raised go to the American Cancer Society to fund the numerous services they provide, including research projects, the Hope Lodge facility, educational efforts as well as direct patient services.
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Disclaimer: Anna Renault is a member of Team Hollyneckers: Kissing Cancer Goodbye.
Source: www.examiner.com
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