Arizona AG withdraws from Legal Challenge to SB 1070

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- Associated Press, June 18, 2010


Arizona Attorney General Says He Won't Defend State's Immigration Law

The Republican governor and Democratic attorney general, both are gubernatorial candidates, were in a dispute over whether the attorney general should defend the state.

PHOENIX -- Attorney General Terry Goddard says Friday that his office plans to withdraw as the state's lawyers in legal challenges to Arizona's new immigration law.

That leaves Gov. Jan Brewer's attorneys to defend the law on the state's behalf.

The Republican governor and Democratic attorney general were in a dispute over whether Goddard should defend the state. Both are gubernatorial candidates.

Brewer complained that Goddard's criticism of the law raised doubts about his ability to defend it.

Goddard says his office has defended state laws in court during the past, even when he disagreed with the law. Goddard says Brewer's threat to have him removed would be an expensive fight for the state.

Brewer predicts the law will be upheld.
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