Case 2:07-cv-02513-GMS Document 1987 Filed 03/23/17 Page 1 of 15

1 Charles J. Cooper*
Michael W. Kirk*
2 Harold S. Reeves*
COOPER & KIRK, PLLC
3 1523 New Hampshire Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036
4 Telephone: (202) 220-9600
Fax: (202) 220-9601
5 ccooper@cooperkirk.com
mkirk@cooperkirk.com
6 hreeves@cooperkirk.com
7 * Admitted pro hac vice
8 John T. Masterson, Bar #007447
Joseph J. Popolizio, Bar #017434
9 Justin M. Ackerman, Bar #030726
JONES, SKELTON & HOCHULI, P.L.C.
10 40 North Central Avenue, Suite 2700
Phoenix, Arizona 85004
11 Telephone: (602) 263-1700
Fax: (602) 200-7846
12 jmasterson@jshfirm.com
jpopolizio@jshfirm.com
13 jackerman@jshfirm.com
14 Attorneys for Joseph M. Arpaio, Gerard
Sheridan, and Joseph Sousa
15
16 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
17 DISTRICT OF ARIZONA
18 Manuel de Jesus Ortega Melendres, et al., NO. CV 07-02513-PHX-GMS
19 Plaintiffs, BRIEF REGARDING THE
STANDING OF FORMER
20 v. SHERIFF ARPAIO, FORMER
CHIEF DEPUTY SHERIDAN, AND
21 Joseph M. Arpaio, et al., LIEUTENANT SOUSA
22 Defendants.
23
24
25
26
27
28
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INTRODUCTION
2
Five months ago, Joseph Arpaio, Gerard Sheridan, and Joseph Sousa (collectively,
3
Movants) filed a motion to recuse this Court and its Monitor, and a separate motion for
4
discovery into ex parte conversations between the Court and Monitor. Those motions
5
explain that the Court and Monitor must be disqualified because they have engaged in
6
extensive unauthorized ex parte communications about the merits of this case.1 Many of
7
those conversations were effectively ex parte communications between the Court and the
8
parties themselves, for the Monitor reported to the Court information it learned in secret ex
9
parte conversations with the parties. The unauthorized ex parte conversations covered a
10
wide range of topics, including disputed factual questions that go to the very heart of this
11
Courts decisions to find Movants in contempt of Court and to conduct new investigations
12
into Movants conduct.
13
On March 2, 2017, this Court instructed Movants to address the question of their
14
standing to continue to urge the motions for recusal and discovery now that Arpaio is no
15
longer Sheriff and Sheriff Penzone has declined to press these motions. See Order at 2 (Mar.
16
2, 2017), Doc. 1965. Sheridan and Sousa have standing to urge their Motion for Recusal
17
because the Court and its Monitor are currently conducting investigations into their conduct
18
that may result in sanctions or other injuries to them. Sheridan and Sousa undoubtedly have
19
standing to argue that the judicial officers investigating them must be disqualified. And
20
Arpaio, Sheridan, and Sousa have standing to seek the discovery relevant to vacatur of the
21
Courts prior orders because those orders have sanctioned and reprimanded them in several
22
ways, including by (1) entering contempt citations against them, (2) re-opening internal
23
affairs investigations into their conduct, (3) subjecting them to collateral criminal and
24
administrative investigations, and (4) grievously injuring their reputations. Movants have
25
26 1
See Motion for Recusal of the Court and Its Monitor (Nov. 10, 2016), Doc. 1878
27 (Motion for Recusal), and Renewed Motion for Leave to File Motion for Discovery of
Ex Parte Communications Between the Court and the Monitor (Nov. 15, 2016), Doc. 1884
28 (Motion for Discovery).
 Case 2:07-cv-02513-GMS Document 1987 Filed 03/23/17 Page 3 of 15

1
standing to seek vacatur of those orders, and thus to request any relevant discovery that
2
would support vacatur.
3
In any event, regardless of whether Movants have standing, the Court has an
4
independent obligation to consider whether it should recuse itself given that the issue has
5
been brought to its attention. See, e.g., King v. United States Dist. Court for Cent. Dist. of
6
Cal., 16 F.3d 992, 993 n.2 (9th Cir. 1994). For this reason, the Court must address the
7
issues raised in the motions even if it concludes Movants lack standing.
8
9 BACKGROUND
10
A. The Court Finds Movants in Contempt and Conducts
11 New Investigations into Movants Conduct.
12 In 2016, the Court issued three orders finding Movants in contempt, commencing

13 new or reopened investigations into Movants conduct, and ordering continued oversight

14 and control of those investigations by the Court and its Monitor. These three orders provide

15 the basis for Movants standing to maintain their motions for recusal and discovery.

16
1. The Civil Contempt Order.
17
On May 13, 2016, this Court found Arpaio, Sheridan, and Sousa in civil contempt.
18
Findings of Facts and Order Setting a Hearing for May 31, 2016 at 162 (May 13, 2016),
19
Doc. 1677 (Contempt Order). The Court found all three Movants in contempt for failing
20
to implement the Courts December 2011 preliminary injunction, id. 65, 92, 151, it found
21
Arpaio and Sheridan in contempt for violating the Courts oral instruction to quietly recover
22
certain evidence from MCSO personnel, id. 23738, and it found Arpaio in contempt for
23
failing to produce evidence in response to Plaintiffs discovery requests and Court orders,
24
id. 16566. See also id. at 162.
25
In addition to finding Movants in civil contempt, the Courts Contempt Order also
26
invalidated conclusions of certain MCSO internal investigations. Many of these
27
investigations implicated the conduct of Sheridan and Sousa. For example, the Court
28
2
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invalidated IA #2014-543, which concerned MCSOs failure to implement the Courts
2
preliminary injunction. Id. 405, 490. Both Sheridan and Sousa had been targets of this
3
invalidated investigation. Id. 412, 433. The Court also invalidated IA #2014-542, which
4
concerned MCSOs supervisory failures with respect to Deputy Armendariz. Id. 406,
5
573. Sousa, who remains an employee of MCSO, had been a target of this investigation,
6
and the investigation additionally implicated Sheridans conduct. Id. 491; see also
7
492567.
8
9 2. The Second Supplemental Injunction.
10 On July 26, 2016, this Court entered a Second Supplemental Injunction that launched
11 numerous investigations into the conduct of Sheridan, Sousa, and Arpaio. Second Amended
12 Second Supplemental Permanent Injunction/Judgement Order (July 26, 2016), Doc. 1765
13 (Second Supplemental Injunction). The Second Supplemental Injunction is relevant in at
14 least two separate respects.
15 a. First, the Second Supplemental Injunction re-opened numerous internal
16 investigations into Movants conduct and appointed two of the Courts agentsthe
17 Independent Investigator and the Independent Disciplinary Authorityto conduct
18 those investigations. The investigations placed under the authority of these two agents
19 include the aforementioned IAs #2014-542 and #2014-543. Id. 296. The Court also
20 identified seven instances of alleged misconduct by Sheridan alone that warranted
21 investigation by its two agents. Id. 301(a)(f), (j). In conducting its investigations, the
22 Investigator is permitted to consider the Courts previous findings of fact, id. 309, even
23 though Movants have alleged that these findings are tainted by the Courts ex parte
24 communications, as discussed at length in the motions. Should these investigations
25 conclude that Movants have committed wrongdoing, the Court and its Monitor have
26
27
28
3
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retained the power to impose substantial punishment, including by subjecting Sousa to
2
demotion, suspension, and termination. See id. 322, 332.2
3
The Court itself is conducting these reopened investigations into the propriety of
4
Movants conduct. The investigations are being performed by two judicial officers
5
appointed by the Court and subject to direction (and no doubt removal) by the Court, the
6
Independent Investigator and Independent Disciplinary Authority. See Second
7
Supplemental Injunction 296, 320. Moreover, the investigations are being performed
8
pursuant to the elaborate investigation and review process established by the Courts
9
Second Supplemental Injunction.
10
Wholly apart from the Courts actions through its two agents, the Court directly
11
exercises substantial oversight and decision-making authority over these re-opened
12
investigations. The Courts oversight of these internal investigations includes, but is not
13
limited to:
14
The Court exercises final decision-making authority over whether the
15
investigations concern matters sufficiently related to the rights and remedies to
16
which the members of the Plaintiff class are entitled so as to be within [the
17
Investigators] jurisdiction, id. 302;
18
The Court may decide all legal questions concerning the scope of the
19
Investigators authority and any other matter related to the Investigators powers,
20
id. 311;
21
The Court may decide any other matters . . . on which the Independent
22
Investigator needs to request that the Court enter an order, id. 312;
23
24
25 2
Sheridan is no longer employed by MCSO and thus can no longer be subject to
26 discipline by MCSO. The Court has nevertheless retained jurisdiction over the IAs into
Sheridans conduct, and so Sheridan may be subject to further discipline by the Court in
27 connection with these investigations. Additionally, as discussed elsewhere in this brief, the
findings of the internal investigations may have other prejudicial collateral consequences
28 for him.
4
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The Court is empowered to issue further orders to enforce the Disciplinary
2
Authoritys power to investigate misconduct, make findings about misconduct,
3
and impose discipline, id. 323; and
4
The Court is empowered to decide any and all legal questions concerning the
5
scope of the Disciplinary Authoritys powers, id. 324.
6
The Court has actively exercised its oversight over the Independent Investigator and
7
Independent Disciplinary Authority. See, e.g., Order (Mar. 9, 2017), Doc. 1975 (setting
8
status conference for Independent Investigator to update Court on status of its
9
investigations).
10
The Monitoranother agent of the Courtalso exercises substantial oversight of
11
these re-opened investigations. See, e.g., id. 275, 277 (Monitor has plenary authority
12
except to the extent authority is vested with the Court-appointed Investigator and
13
Disciplinary Authority). If the Disciplinary Authority imposes minor discipline upon
14
Movants, they must appeal that discipline to the Monitor. Id. 337(a). The Monitor has
15
the power to adjudicate the appeal, including to augment the discipline imposed upon the
16
target of the investigation. Id. The Investigator must also report to the Monitor on all issues
17
that he investigates. Id. 302. And the Monitor and Investigator may communicate with
18
each otherapparently ex parteto coordinate their investigations. Id. 310.
19
b. The Second Supplemental Injunction is relevant to the recusal and discovery
20
motions in a second way. Wholly apart from the reopened investigations placed within the
21
jurisdiction of the Independent Investigator and Independent Disciplinary Authority, the
22
Second Supplemental Injunction vests the Monitorwho is, once again, an agent of this
23
Courtwith authority to oversee all other internal affairs investigations pertaining to Class
24
Remedial Matters. Id. 275. These investigations may concern Movants conduct, and
25
thus could expose Movants to sanction or reputational harm.
26
The Monitor has plenary authority over these investigations, id. 277, including
27
the power to initiate criminal investigations, id. 286, and to vacate[ ] and overrid[e]
28
5
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any decisions of MCSO with respect to investigations within the Monitors purview, id.
2
282. The Monitor has complete authority to conduct whatever review, research and
3
investigation he deems necessary to determine whether . . . matters qualify as Class
4
Remedial Matters and whether the MCSO is dealing with such matters in a thorough, fair,
5
consistent, and unbiased manner. Id. 279. The Monitor also has the right to review all
6
appeals from any minor discipline imposed for Class Remedial Mattersincluding,
7
apparently, appeals from decisions that the Monitor himself has made. Id. 287(a).
8
The Monitor exercises all of this authority subject only to oversight by the Court,
9
which may oversee, inter alia, whether the Monitor has exceeded its jurisdiction. Id. 280.
10
The Court also has the sole authority to permit the Sheriff or MCSO to countermand any
11
directions or decision of the Monitor with respect to Class Remedial Matters by grievance,
12
appeal, briefing board, directive, or otherwise. Id. 282. And the Court has the power to
13
determine when the Monitors authority over Class Remedial Matters will cease. Id. 288.
14
15 3. The Courts Criminal Contempt Referral.
16 Finally, on August 19, 2016, the Court entered an order referring Arpaio and
17 Sheridan to another Judge of this Court to determine whether they should be held in criminal
18 contempt. Order re Criminal Contempt at 32 (Aug. 19, 2016), Doc. 1792. The Department
19 of Justice has elected to prosecute Arpaio, and a bench trial is set to start on April 25, 2017.
20 See Motion to Continue Trial at 1, United States v. Arpaio, No. 16-cr-1012 (D. Ariz. Mar.
21 17, 2017), ECF No. 86.
22 ARGUMENT
23 Part A discusses Movants standing to maintain the Motion for Recusal. Part B
24 discusses Movants standing to maintain the Motion for Discovery. Part C discusses this
25 Courts obligation to adjudicate the motions sua sponte regardless of whether a party has
26 standing to maintain those motions.
27
28
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 Case 2:07-cv-02513-GMS Document 1987 Filed 03/23/17 Page 8 of 15

1 A. Sheridan and Sousa Have Standing To Seek Prospective Recusal

of the Court and Its Monitor.
2
As explained in the Background section, the Court and the Monitor, both themselves
3
and through the Independent Investigator and Independent Disciplinary Authority, are
4
currently in the process of conducting investigations into the propriety of Sheridans and
5
Sousas conduct. The Motion for Recusal argues that the Court and its Monitor cannot
6
preside over future proceedings because they have engaged in unauthorized ex parte
7
communications about the merits of the case. Worse still, the Court and the Monitor have
8
engaged in ex parte communications concerning the exact same topics that now constitute
9
the basis for their investigations into Sheridan and Sousa, including whether they violated
10
Court orders and discovery requests.
11
These investigations, conducted by the Court, its Monitor, and its Independent
12
Investigator, could potentially result in sanction by the Court against Sheridan and Sousa.
13
The Monitors investigations could result in sanction by the Court and even the initiation
14
of a criminal prosecution. See Second Supplemental Injunction 286. The Independent
15
Investigators investigations could result in demotion, suspension, or termination for Sousa,
16
and potential sanction by the Court for Sheridan. Id. 322, 333. A finding of wrongdoing
17
would cause them grave reputational harm. Such a finding would also expose them to
18
additional investigation and sanction by the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training
19
(AZPOST) Board, which has the power to suspend, revoke, or cancel their police officer
20
certification. See ARIZ. REV. STAT. 41-1822(C) and (D)(1).
21
Sheridan and Sousa undoubtedly have standing to argue that the judicial officers who
22
are investigating and threatening to punish them are disqualified under the judicial recusal
23
statute. Indeed, they have just as much standing as any defendant or non-party contemnor
24
has to assert the full range of defenses, including the defense that the governing tribunal
25
must be recused because of ex parte communications.
26
It is a cardinal tenet of our justice system that anyone accused of civil or criminal
27
wrongdoing may assert the full range of defenses against that accusation. Indeed, it is
28
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unclear whether Article III standing is even implicated at all when an accused asserts
2
defenses against an accusation. For example, in Bond v. United States, 564 U.S. 211 (2011),
3
the Supreme Court held that a criminal defendant undoubtedly had Article III standing to
4
raise a Tenth Amendment defense to a prosecution. The Court explained that [o]ne who
5
seeks to initiate or continue proceedings in federal court must demonstrate Article III
6
standing and concrete adverseness of the parties presentations, but that when those
7
requirements are satisfied, Article III does not restrict the opposing partys ability to object
8
to relief being sought at its expense. Id. at 217. Thus, the Court concluded, [t]he
9
requirement of Article III standing . . . had no bearing upon [the defendants] capacity to
10
assert defenses in the District Court. Id. The Ninth Circuit recently reaffirmed this
11
principle in United States v. McIntosh, 833 F.3d 1163 (9th Cir. 2016), where it readily
12
concluded that Article III posed no barrier to criminal defendants argument that a
13
congressional appropriations rider prohibited the Department of Justice from prosecuting
14
them. The Ninth Circuit explained that the defendants clearly had Article III standing to
15
pursue their challenges [in the district court] because they were merely objecting to relief
16
sought at their expense. Id. at 117374.
17
Just as Carol Anne Bond and Steve McIntosh had Article III standing to argue that
18
relief was sought at their expense in violation of the Tenth Amendment and a congressional
19
appropriations statute, Sheridan and Sousa have standing to argue that relief is sought at
20
their expense in violation of the judicial-recusal statute, the Due Process Clause, and the
21
judicial code of conduct.
22
It is irrelevant that Sheridan and Sousa are not formally denominated defendants,
23
because nonparties have standing to object to relief being entered against them. It is settled,
24
for example, that non-party civil or criminal contemnors have standing to object to contempt
25
orders and to appeal an adverse contempt citation. United States Catholic Conference v.
26
Abortion Rights Mobilization, Inc., 487 U.S. 72, 76 (1988) (The right of a nonparty to
27
appeal an adjudication of contempt cannot be questioned.). The Ninth Circuit has even
28
8
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upheld the right of a non-party to appeal an injunction where the non-party would merely
2
risk contempt proceedings for violating the injunction, holding that the non-party suffers
3
sufficient injury-in-fact . . . even in the absence of an actual finding of contempt against
4
it. In re Estate of Ferdinand Marcos Human Rights Litig., 94 F.3d 539, 544 (9th Cir. 1996).
5
Indeed, non-party contemnors are actually given preferential treatment for purposes of
6
challenging relief sought against them, for they generally may immediately appeal civil
7
contempt citations whereas parties must wait until final judgment to appeal a civil contempt
8
citation. Admiral Ins. Co. v. United States Dist. Court for Dist. of Ariz., 881 F.2d 1486,
9
1491 (9th Cir. 1989); In re Coordinated Pretrial Proceedings in Petroleum Products
10
Antitrust Litig., 747 F.2d 1303, 1305 (9th Cir. 1984). If individuals who risk sanction by a
11
district court have standing to appeal the district courts decision, it follows a fortiori that
12
they have standing to raise defenses before the district court in the first instance.
13
There is no reason Sheridan and Sousa should be treated any differently than the
14
parties and non-parties in these cases. The Court and its agents are currently investigating
15
Sheridan and Sousa, and those investigations carry with them the risk of substantial
16
penalties. Were this Court to hold that Sheridan and Sousa cannot object to these exercises
17
of judicial power on the ground that the Court and its agents engaged in unauthorized ex
18
parte communications, it is hard to see why Sheridan and Sousa could object to any decision
19
of the Court and its Monitor. Sheridan and Sousa can undoubtedly protest their innocence
20
and argue that the Court and its agents have exceeded their jurisdiction. Indeed, the Courts
21
Second Supplemental Injunction expressly recognizes, on multiple occasions, Movants
22
right to object to the conduct of the investigation against them. See, e.g., Second
23
Supplemental Injunction 302, 308, 317, 321, 324, 337. There is no reason the particular
24
objection at issue here, grounded in the Court and Monitors unauthorized ex parte
25
communications, should be treated any differently.
26
27
28
9
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1 B. Arpaio, Sheridan, and Sousa Have Standing To Seek Discovery of

Ex Parte Communications Between the Court and Monitor.
2
The Motion for Discovery seeks full discovery into the substance of the ex parte
3
communications between the Court and the Monitor. This discovery will serve two
4
purposes, and Movants have standing to request discovery for each of those purposes.
5
6
1. Movants have standing to assert the discovery motion
7 in aid of their motion for prospective recusal.
8 The Motion for Recusal explains that the record in this case requires the prospective

9 recusal of the Court and its Monitor. But even assuming that the record does not already

10 make clear that the Court and its Monitor cannot continue to preside over this case, the

11 Motion for Discovery will allow Movants to obtain information relevant to the question of

12 prospective recusal. Thus, for the same reasons that Movants have standing to assert the

13 recusal motion, see supra Part A, they likewise have standing to request discovery into

14 information relevant to the recusal motion.

15
2. Movants have standing to assert the discovery motion to obtain
16 information relevant to whether the Courts prior orders must be vacated.
17 The Motion for Discovery will also allow Movants to obtain information relevant to
18 the question whether the Courts prior orders must be vacated. The Courts prior orders
19 have injured Movants in tangible ways, and so Movants undoubtedly have standing to argue
20 that those orders should be vacated because of the Courts unauthorized ex parte
21 communications. It necessarily follows that they have standing to obtain the discovery
22 relevant to that request for vacatur.
23 The Courts prior orders have caused Movants to suffer four separate concrete and
24 particularized injuries, and each of these injuries is both traceable directly to the Courts
25 orders and would be redressed by vacatur of those orders. See Lujan v. Defenders of
26 Wildlife, 504 U.S. 555, 56061 (1992). First, the Courts prior orders have re-opened
27 MCSO internal affairs investigations into Sheridan and Sousa, and have separately
28
10
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authorized new investigations by the Monitor. Those investigations may result in the
2
imposition of discipline against Sheridan and Sousa. The Court-appointed Investigator and
3
Disciplinary Authority are even permitted to consider the Courts tainted findings of fact in
4
determining whether to impose sanctions. See Second Supplemental Injunction 309.
5
Second, the Courts civil contempt citation has subjected Sheridan and Sousa to
6
investigation by AZPOST. Indeed, AZPOST has already opened an investigation into
7
Sheridan after this Courts contempt citation. See Letter from Mark K. Perkovich,
8
Compliance Manager, AZPOST, to Chief Deputy Sheridan (Aug. 24, 2016), attached as
9
Exhibit 1. As noted, AZPOST has the power to initiate investigations into Sheridans and
10
Sousas misconduct, and to suspend, revoke, or cancel their police officer certification. See
11
ARIZ. REV. STAT. 41-1822(C) and (D)(1).
12
Third, the Courts criminal contempt referral has subjected Arpaio to actual criminal
13
prosecution, and it has exposed Sheridan to possible criminal prosecution.
14
Fourth, the Courts civil contempt citation and criminal contempt referral constitute
15
per se injuries and have also caused Arpaio, Sheridan, and Sousa to suffer severe
16
reputational harm.
17
Each of these injuries undoubtedly constitutes a sufficient injury for standing
18
purposes, and vacatur of the Courts prior orders would redress these injuries. Movants
19
have standing to object to the Courts prior orders because they are merely objecting to
20
relief sought at their expense. McIntosh, 833 F.3d at 117374; see also Bond, 564 U.S. at
21
217. Indeed, few principles are better established than that nonparties have standing to seek
22
vacatur of contempt citations. See, e.g., United States Catholic Conference, 487 U.S. at 76;
23
In re Coordinated Pretrial Proceedings, 747 F.2d at 1305. And the Motion for Discovery
24
would produce information relevant to a motion to vacate those suspect orders.
25
The Ninth Circuit has already recognized a partys capacity to challenge a Courts
26
orders in circumstances closely analogous to this case. In United States v. Talao, 222 F.3d
27
1133 (9th Cir. 2000), the district court made a finding and reached a legal conclusion that a
28
11
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non-party attorney knowingly and willfully violated a rule of ethical conduct, and the court
2
did not enter any further sanction against the attorney other than this mere finding of a
3
violation. Id. at 1138. The Ninth Circuit held that the finding was appealable and reached
4
the merits of the attorneys appeal because the district courts adverse finding carries
5
consequences similar to the consequences of a reprimand. Id. In particular, the Ninth
6
Circuit found that [i]f the courts formal finding is permitted to stand, it is likely to
7
stigmatize [the attorney] among her colleagues and potentially could have a serious
8
detrimental effect on her career. Id. In addition, the Ninth Circuit explained, the
9
attorney might be subjected to further disciplinary action by the California Bar. Id.
10
The Courts prior orders in this case carry more severe a sanction than those in Talao.
11
The Courts findings that Movants are in criminal contempt, and its criminal contempt
12
referral, are no doubt likely to stigmatize movants and potentially could have a serious
13
detrimental effect on [their] career. Id.3 And while in Talao the finding merely exposed
14
the attorney to potential disciplinary action by the California Bar, 222 F.3d at 1133, here,
15
further disciplinary action has already been taken. This Court has found Movants in civil
16
contempt. Arpaio is currently under criminal prosecution as a consequence of the Courts
17
order. AZPOST has already commenced an investigation into Sheridans conduct. And
18
the Courts prior orders have re-opened previously-closed investigations and subjected
19
Sheridan and Sousa to further investigations by the Court and its appointed agents.
20
21 C. This Court Must Consider Movants Recusal Motions Regardless of
22 Movants Standing To Press Those Motions.
Finally, even if this Court determines that Arpaio, Sheridan, and Sousa lack standing
23
to pursue their Motions for Recusal and Discovery, the Court nonetheless has an obligation
24
25
3
Numerous other authorities establish litigants standing to challenge reputational
26 injuries. See, e.g., Lexmark Intl, Inc. v. Static Control Components, Inc., 134 S.Ct. 1377,
27 1386 (2014); Walker v. City of Lakewood, 272 F.3d 1114, 1124 & n.3 (9th Cir. 2001); 13A
WRIGHT & MILLER, FEDERAL PRACTICE & PROCEDURE 3531.4 (3d ed. 2017) (injury to
28 individual reputation supports standing).
12
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to decide the merits of those motions. This is because the Court has an obligation to
2
determine sua sponte whether it must recuse itself. See, e.g., United States v. Holland, 519
3
F.3d 909, 91213 (9th Cir. 2008); King v. United States Dist. Court for Cent. Dist. of Cal.,
4
16 F.3d 992, 993 n.2 (9th Cir. 1994); United States v. Sibla, 624 F.2d 864, 868 (9th Cir.
5
1980). This obligation is particularly acute where, as here, the grounds for the Courts
6
recusal have been extensively laid out in a series of filings. Accordingly, although Arpaio,
7
Sheridan, and Sousa undoubtedly have standing to maintain their Motions for Recusal and
8
Discovery, that question is ultimately irrelevant to the question whether the Court must
9
decide the recusal and discovery motions.
10
CONCLUSION
11
For the foregoing reasons, the Court should adjudicate Movants pending Motion for
12
Recusal and Motion for Discovery.
13
14 DATED this 23rd day of March, 2017.
15
COOPER & KIRK, PLLC
16
17 By Charles J. Cooper
Charles J. Cooper*
18 Michael W. Kirk*
Harold S. Reeves*
19 COOPER & KIRK, PLLC
1523 New Hampshire Ave., N.W.
20 Washington, D.C. 20036

21 * Admitted pro hac vice

22 JONES, SKELTON & HOCHULI, P.L.C.

23 By John T. Masterson
John T. Masterson
24 Joseph J. Popolizio
Justin M. Ackerman
25 40 North Central Avenue, Suite 2700
Phoenix, Arizona 85004
26
Attorneys for Joseph M. Arpaio, Gerard
27 Sheridan, and Joseph Sousa
28
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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
2
I hereby certify that on this 23rd day of March, 2017, I caused the foregoing
3
document to be filed electronically with the Clerk of Court through the CM/ECF System
4
for filing; and served on counsel of record via the Courts CM/ECF system.
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6 /s/ Charles J. Cooper
7 Charles J. Cooper
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