On Eve Of Election Federal Appeals Court Considers SB1070 Injunction

Tucson  Today, SB1070 goes before a federal appeals court, as a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge begins deliberations on lifting an injunction on the controversial immigration law.

Michael Kiefer and Alia Beard Rau of the Arizona Republic have more here:

With battle lines over immigration drawn and the nation watching, attorneys for Arizona and the U.S. Department of Justice will debate Monday lifting a preliminary injunction against portions of the state's controversial immigration law, known as Senate Bill 1070.

A federal judge in Phoenix put several key components of the law on hold in late July, only hours before the law was supposed to take effect. Rather than enter into litigation to amend problems pointed out by the judge, Gov. Jan Brewer appealed the injunction.

At least 13 states, dozens of congressional members, numerous cities in Arizona and across the country, advocacy groups pro and con, and 11 Latin American nations have weighed in with statements to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, where the argument will be heard.

A verdict is not expected for a week or up to a month:

A ruling by the three-judge panel assigned to hear the case isn't likely for weeks or even months. And the debate will not stop with the panel's ruling.

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, not about to let a perfectly good, campaign photo-op go unused has graciously decided to travel to San Francisco to attend the proceedings:

Brewer will attend Monday's hearing.

....Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry Goddard on Sunday said Brewer seeks only to grab headlines by traveling to the hearing.

"The court will make its decision based on the law, not on who's in the courtroom," said Goddard, who is Arizona's attorney general but is not arguing the state's case.

Jerry Merkon of The Washington Post has a story up that examines the likely outcome of the appeal process HERE:

"Appellate judges have a tendency not to muck around in the district court's backfield too much,'' said Jonathan Benner, a Washington lawyer who has argued numerous cases involving federal-state conflicts. "Unless the appeals court believes that [Bolton] blew it, they are likely to uphold the injunction.''