Arpaio loses appeal on pink-underwear case

Source: Associated Press

The U.S. Supreme Court declined Monday to hear Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s appeal of a ruling that criticized a decision by his jail officers to force pink underwear onto a mentally ill inmate who erroneously believed jailers were trying to rape him.

The refusal by the court means the lawsuit by the estate of Eric Vogel appears headed to trial for a second time.

Arpaio’s office won the case at trial, but the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals threw out the verdict and called for a new trial in a ruling a year ago.

The 9th Circuit said dressing inmates in pink underwear — a hallmark of Arpaio — appeared to be punishment without legal justification and noted that it’s fair to infer that the selection of pink as the underwear color was meant to symbolize the loss of prisoners’ masculinity.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/politics/free/20130304joe-arpaio-pink-underwear-appeal.html