► U.S. Judge Susan Bolton of Phoenix; one of the Good Gals Print

U.S. Judge Susan Bolton of Phoenix; one of the Good Gals

 

The state of Ohio presented Susan Ritchie Bolton with a law license in 1975 after she graduated from the University of Iowa Law School.

 

In one matter, Judge Bolton was assigned to preside over a case involving disgraced former Maricopa County (Phoenix) Sheriff Joe Arpaio who was charged with violating the constitutional rights of Latinos for many, many years.

 

Subsequently, Judge Bolton issued a permanent injunction that forbade Arpaio from continuing to violate the rights of Latinos by singling them out for discrimination based solely on their ethnicity.

 

After Joey repeatedly thumbed his nose at Judge Bolton’s cease and desist orders, she held a trial and found guilty of criminal contempt.

 

The criminal contempt finding led to Donald “Trumporleone” Trump granting Arpaio a presidential pardon so he wouldn’t have to face time in the hoosegow. Joey then demanded that Judge Bolton wipe out his criminal contempt conviction and any rulings in the case.

 

Unfortunately for Joey the Bigot, Judge Bolton refused to do so and in so acting stated in her denial ruling:

  • “The power to pardon is an executive prerogative of mercy, not of judicial recordkeeping."
  • "To vacate all rulings in this case would run afoul of this important distinction.”
  • “he Court found Defendant guilty of criminal contempt.”
  • “The President issued the pardon. Defendant accepted.”
  • “The pardon undoubtedly spared Defendant from any punishment that might otherwise have been imposed.”
  • “It did not, however, 'revise the historical facts' of this case.’"

Kudos to Judge Bolton for displaying the courage and fortitude to let Arpaio know in no uncertain terms that he is now and will forever be known as a convicted criminal.

 

As we speak (ca. October 2017), Judge Bolton continues to sit a U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Arizona in Phoenix.