A federal appeals court has denied Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer's request for an expedited hearing on the state's controversial immigration law. Instead, the case has been scheduled for a hearing during the 1st week in November. Brewer had wanted public oral arguments in the case for mid-September. State lawyers had argued in their appeal that it involves an issue of "significant importance." the state's right to implement a law to address "the irreparable harm Arizona is suffering as a result of unchecked unlawful immigration." The Justice Department had urged a slower schedule, and the 9th Circuit US Court of Appeals agreed in a brief order issued last evening. The federal government countered that there was no need to expedite the matter because "the only effect of the district court's injunction in this case is to preserve a status quo that has existed for a long period of time". Arizona filed its appeal Thursday, asking the court to lift US District Judge Susan Bolton's preliminary injunction on the immigration law. Bolton's ruling Wednesday temporarily blocked some of the most controversial provisions of the law, known as SB 1070, including the requirement that police officers check a person's immigration status while enforcing other laws.Brewer said earlier yesterday that she'd consider changes to "tweak" the law to respond to the parts Bolton faulted. "Basically we believe (the law) is constitutional but she obviously pointed out faults that can possibly be fixed, and that's what we would do," Brewer said. She said she's talking to legislative leaders about the possibility of a special session, but said no specific changes had been identified.
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