Law prof comments on judge's ruling on immigration bill

Associate Professor Andy Hessick discussed U.S. District Court Judge Susan Bolton’s ruling on Arizona’s controversial immigration bill during a program on WPR, Wisconsin Public Radio, on July 28.

During “At Issue with Ben Merens,” Hessick gave the background of the law, part of which became effective at 12:01 a.m. on July 29, and explained the parts of the law that were blocked by Bolton’s temporary injunction.

“It seems to be a very careful ruling,” Hessick said. “It divides up the law and focuses on the part that seems to be problematic and preserves the rest of it. But it’s only a preliminary injunction, a temporary ruling, and there’s still a trial to be had.”

Bolton enjoined sections in the law requiring police officers to make attempts to verify the immigration status of individuals, making it a state crime for people to not carry immigration documents, making it illegal for undocumented workers to apply for jobs, and authorizing non-federal officers to arrest and deport individuals, he said.

Hessick, who joined the College faculty in 2008, teaches Civil Procedure, Administrative Law, the Supreme Court in American Politics, and Judicial Remedies. He served as a law clerk for Judge Raymond Randolph of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and for Judge Reena Raggi of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Janie Magruder, [email protected]
(480) 727-9052
Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law