By Megan Cassidy | The Arizona Republic
Sheriff Joe Arpaio will face a civil contempt hearing in federal court this spring after a judge’s ruling.
U.S. District Judge Murray Snow ruled during a Thursday telephone conference that he will initiate a civil contempt of court proceeding against the six-term Maricopa County sheriff during a four-day mini trial in April.
Snow has repeatedly threatened to level criminal or civil contempt proceedings against the office, and the judge spent the last week reviewing pleadings in which attorneys for Arpaio tried to convince Snow to avoid taking the monumental step.
The trial is set to take place April 21-24.
