Dean Johnson Comments on Racial Profiling Suits for Arizona NPR Affiliate

Dean Kevin R. Johnson commented for the Arizona-based National Public Radio affiliate KJZZ on lawsuits filed against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio claiming that the sheriff's office systematically targets Latinos.

The sheriff is facing both a class action discrimination suit and a U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit alleging broader civil rights violations.  Dean Johnson said that the class action case, which is nearing its completion, may provide some advantages for the government in the Department of Justice suit.

"The government has a roadmap of what the defense could be to the claims that they are engaging in a pattern and practice of racial profiling," Dean Johnson said. He also stated that the district court ruling potentially could be used by the government in its suit.

Kevin R. Johnson is Dean and Mabie-Apallas Professor of Public Interest Law and Chicana/o studies at UC Davis School of Law. He is an internationally recognized scholar in the fields of immigration law and policy, refugee law, and civil rights.

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