Judge says monitor will oversee operations of Ariz. Sheriff Arpaio

PHOENIX, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- A federal judge says a monitor will be appointed to oversee the operations of Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who was found guilty of racial profiling in May.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Murray Snow appeared to satisfy both sides in the long-running controversy, KSAZ-TV, Phoenix, reported Friday.

Thomas P. Liddy, the attorney for the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, said, "we feel very confident that the monitor will have very finite power, will not have power over the operation of MCSO which was our one main issue so we're very happy with that."

"We were very pleased with the judge taking it so seriously," said Dan Pochoda, legal director of ACLU Arizona, the primary plaintiff in the lawsuit. "We believe he will adopt a significant amount of that decree and hopefully it will lead to positive change that is so necessary here in this county."

Latino rights advocates, who expect Snow to appoint a monitor within 60 days, praised the decision and said they think the judge will increase the data to be collected at traffic stops.

The judge said the monitor would not have the power to override the sheriff's operations, The Arizona Republic reported.

Snow rejected claims by Liddy the monitor would have such ability. The judge noted the agreement reached by both sides doesn't give the monitor any veto authority.

Rather, Snow said, the monitor will determine when the sheriff's office is in full compliance "for a number of years" with the court order.

Snow will select a monitor from names submitted by both sides.