United States of America v. Arizona, State of, et al, No. 2:2010cv01413 - Document 128 (D. Ariz. 2010)
Court Description: ORDER denying State Senator Russell Pearce's 33 Motion to Intervene; denying Cochise County Sheriff Larry A. Dever's 88 Motion to Intervene; denying Richard Mack's 122 Motion to Intervene. Signed by Judge Susan R Bolton on 10/28/10. (note: see attached pdf for complete details)(ESL) (Entered: 10/28/2010)
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United States of America v. Arizona, State of, et al Doc. 128 1 2 3 4 5 6 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 7 FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 ) ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) vs. ) ) The State of Arizona; and Janice K.) Brewer, Governor of the State of Arizona,) ) in her Official Capacity, ) ) Defendants. ) ) United States of America, No. CV 10-1413-PHX-SRB ORDER 16 17 18 The Court now resolves the Motions to Intervene filed by Arizona State Senator 19 Russell Pearce (“Pearce Mot.”) (Doc. 33), Cochise County Sheriff Larry A. Dever (“Dever 20 Mot.”) (Doc. 88), and Richard Mack (“Mack Mot.”) (Doc. 122). 21 I. BACKGROUND 22 This case concerns the constitutionality of Arizona’s Senate Bill 1070, as modified 23 by House Bill 2162 (collectively, “S.B. 1070”), which had an effective date of July 29, 2010. 24 Plaintiff moved for a preliminary injunction on July 7, 2010. (See Doc. 27.) Oral argument 25 on Plaintiff’s Motion was heard on July 22, 2010. (See Doc. 84.) The Court ruled on 26 Plaintiff’s Motion on July 28, 2010, and preliminarily enjoined some portions of S.B. 1070. 27 (See Doc. 87.) 28 Dockets.Justia.com 1 On July 14, 2010, Arizona State Senator Russell Pearce moved to intervene in this 2 matter. (Doc. 33.) On July 28, 2010, Cochise County Sheriff Larry A. Dever moved to 3 intervene. (Doc. 88.) On September 16, 2010, Richard Mack, former Sheriff of Graham 4 County, moved to intervene. (Doc. 122.) 5 II. LEGAL STANDARDS AND ANALYSIS 6 A. 7 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 24(a) permits intervention as a matter of right on a 8 timely motion. While the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals construes Rule 24(a) liberally in 9 favor of potential intervenors, the applicant for intervention bears the burden of 10 demonstrating that he has satisfied the elements for intervention. See Ctr. for Biological 11 Diversity v. U.S. Bureau of Land Mgmt., 266 F.R.D. 369, 372 (D. Ariz. 2010); see also Prete 12 v. Bradbury, 438 F.3d 949, 954 (9th Cir. 2006). Applicants are required to satisfy a four-part 13 test for intervention by right: 14 15 16 Standards for Intervention “(1) the motion must be timely; (2) the applicant must claim a ‘significantly protectable’ interest relating to the property or transaction which is the subject of the action; (3) the applicant must be so situated that the disposition of the action may as a practical matter impair or impede its ability to protect that interest; and (4) the applicant’s interest must be inadequately represented by the parties to the action.” 17 United States v. Aerojet Gen. Corp., 606 F.3d 1142, 1148 (9th Cir. 2010) (quoting Cal. ex 18 rel. Lockyer v. United States, 450 F.3d 436, 440 (9th Cir. 2006)). “Failure to satisfy any one 19 of the requirements is fatal to the application . . . .” Perry v. Proposition 8 Official 20 Proponents, 587 F.3d 947, 950 (9th Cir. 2009) (citation omitted). 21 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 24(b) governs permissive intervention. An applicant 22 seeking to intervene under Rule 24(b) must demonstrate three things: “‘(1) independent 23 grounds for jurisdiction; (2) [that] the motion is timely; and (3) [that] the applicant’s claim 24 or defense, and the main action, have a question of law or a question of fact in common.’” 25 S. Cal. Edison Co. v. Lynch, 307 F.3d 794, 803 (9th Cir. 2002) (quoting United States v. City 26 of L.A., 288 F.3d 391, 403 (9th Cir. 2002)). Even where those three elements are satisfied, 27 however, the district court retains the discretion to deny permissive intervention. Id. (citing 28 -2- 1 Donnelly v. Glickman, 159 F.3d 405, 412 (9th Cir. 1998)). In exercising its discretion, a court 2 must consider whether intervention will unduly delay or prejudice the original parties and 3 should consider whether the applicant’s interests are adequately represented by the existing 4 parties and whether judicial economy favors intervention. Venegas v. Skaggs, 867 F.2d 527, 5 530-31 (9th Cir. 1998); see also Fed. R. Civ. P. 24(b)(3) (requiring courts to consider undue 6 delay or prejudice to original parties). 7 B. 8 State Senator Pearce moves to intervene as a matter of right, under Rule 24(a), and 9 moves in the alternative for permissive intervention. (Pearce Mot. at 2.) Senator Pearce 10 introduced S.B. 1070 to the Arizona Senate in January 2010, worked to assure its passage, 11 and ultimately was its chief sponsor. (Id. at 4.) Senator Pearce argues that his role as the 12 author and sponsor of the bill gives him an “interest in seeing that the law, including all 13 provisions of [S.B] 1070, as amended, are defended consistent with his objectives as the 14 author and chief sponsor of the law.” (Id. at 7.) 15 Senator Pearce’s Motion 1. Intervention as a Matter of Right 16 Senator Pearce has cited no authority stating that an individual legislator may 17 intervene in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a state statute to defend purely his 18 own interest, rather than those of the legislature as a whole, particularly where the executive 19 branch has not declined to defend the legislation. See Horne v. Flores, 129 S. Ct. 2579, 2591 20 (2009) (noting that district court granted state legislators’ motion to permissively intervene 21 as representatives of the legislative bodies, where they contended that the state attorney 22 general had shown “little enthusiasm” for advancing the legislature’s interests); Karcher v. 23 May, 484 U.S. 72, 75-76, 84-85 (1987) (explaining that legislators lost standing to defend 24 statute on behalf of entire legislature when they left office, where New Jersey Attorney 25 General declined to defend the law); Coleman v. Miller, 307 U.S. 433, 438 (1939) (holding 26 that group of state senators who voted against ratification of a federal constitutional 27 amendment and contended that their votes would have been sufficient to defeat ratification 28 had standing to challenge the state lieutenant governor’s legal authority to cast the deciding -3- 1 vote in favor of the amendment because they had “a plain, direct and adequate interest in 2 maintaining the effectiveness of their [individual] votes”); Powell v. Ridge, 247 F.3d 520, 3 522 (3d Cir. 2001) (in describing procedural posture, noting that district court granted 4 unopposed motion to intervene filed by certain leaders of the Pennsylvania General 5 Assembly seeking to “articulate to the [c]ourt the unique perspective of the legislative 6 branch”); Yniguez v. Arizona, 939 F.2d 727, 732 (9th Cir. 1991) (concluding that state 7 legislature, as a whole, would have standing to defend the constitutionality of a statute); 8 Clairton Sportsmen’s Club v. Pa. Turnpike Comm’n, 882 F. Supp. 455, 462-63 (W.D. Pa. 9 1995) (observing with no analysis that group of individuals, organizations, and entities, 10 including several state and federal legislators, had previously been granted permission to 11 intervene). 12 The Court is not aware of any authority giving an individual sponsor of a piece of 13 legislation a “significantly protectable” interest in a lawsuit simply by virtue of that person’s 14 involvement in the law’s passage. “The requirement of a significantly protectable interest is 15 generally satisfied when ‘the interest is protectable under some law, and . . . there is a 16 relationship between the legally protected interest and the claims at issue.’” Arakaki v. 17 Cayetano, 324 F.3d 1078, 1084 (9th Cir. 2003) (quoting Sierra Club v. U.S. Envtl. Prot. 18 Agency, 995 F.2d 1478, 1484 (9th Cir. 1993)). The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has 19 observed that individual legislators do not have legally protectable interests in challenging 20 or defending legislation sufficient to support intervention as a matter of right in the absence 21 of some sort of actual personal injury. See, e.g., Newdow v. U.S. Congress, 313 F.3d 495, 22 498-500 (9th Cir. 2002) (analyzing cases and observing that the interest of the individual 23 legislator who was not authorized to represent the entire legislative body is an injury shared 24 with any other citizen and not sufficient to show that the legislator has sustained or is 25 imminently in danger of sustaining any personal injury). In Center for Biological Diversity 26 v. Brennan, 571 F. Supp. 2d 1105, 1128 (N.D. Cal. 2007), the court concluded that a United 27 States senator and congressman had not articulated a legally protectable interest that would 28 permit them to intervene because both of their proposed theories were unavailing: -4- 1 2 3 [T]hey are either suing as individual members of Congress seeking redress for an institutional injury to Congress as a whole, an option foreclosed by [Raines v. Byrd, 521 U.S. 811, 814-16 (1997)] and Newdow, or they are suing on behalf of their constituents, an alternative persuasively blocked by the example set in Kucinich v. Defense Finance and Accounting Service, 183 F. Supp. 2d 1005 (N.D. Ohio 2002). 4 The Court finds that Senator Pearce’s efforts with regard to the passage of S.B. 1070 5 and his interest in having the enactment upheld in its entirety do not constitute a significantly 6 protectable interest that would allow him to intervene as a matter of right in this case. See 7 Aerojet Gen. Corp., 606 F.3d at 1148 (quoting Lockyer, 450 F.3d at 440). Senator Pearce’s 8 expressed interest is general, shared by many other citizens of the state of Arizona as well 9 as some of his fellow legislators. Senator Pearce does not purport to be authorized to 10 represent the Arizona Senate as a whole. Because the Court finds that Senator Pearce has not 11 established a significantly protectable interest that would support intervention as a matter of 12 right, which is the second required element, it follows that Senator Pearce also does not meet 13 the third element of the test: “the applicant must be so situated that the disposition of the 14 action may as a practical matter impair or impede its ability to protect that interest.” See id. 15 (quoting Lockyer, 450 F.3d at 440). The failure to establish these elements is fatal to his 16 Motion to Intervene pursuant to Rule 24(a). See Perry, 587 F.3d at 950. 17 Even if Senator Pearce had shown that he had a significantly protectable interest and 18 that he was so situated that the outcome of this case might impair his ability to protect that 19 interest, the Court would still deny his Motion to Intervene as a matter of right because he 20 has not established the fourth element of the test: that his asserted interests are currently 21 inadequately represented. See Aerojet Gen. Corp., 606 F.3d at 1148 (quoting Lockyer, 450 22 F.3d at 440). “The ‘most important factor’ to determine whether a proposed intervenor is 23 adequately represented by a present party to the action is ‘how the [intervenor’s] interest 24 compares with the interests of existing parties.’” Perry, 587 F.3d at 950-51 (quoting Arakaki, 25 324 F.3d at 1086). If the proposed intervenor and the current party “share the same ultimate 26 objective, a presumption of adequacy of representation applies,” which can only be rebutted 27 by a “compelling showing to the contrary.” Id. (internal quotation and citation omitted). 28 -5- 1 Where the government is acting on behalf of a constituency that it represents, there is also 2 an assumption of adequacy in the absence of a “very compelling showing” that it is 3 inadequate; when the parties’ objectives are the same, “differences in litigation strategy do 4 not normally justify intervention.” Arakaki, 324 F.3d at 1086 (citations omitted). Arakaki set 5 out three factors to assess adequacy of representation: 6 8 (1) whether the interest of a present party is such that it will undoubtedly make all of a proposed intervenor’s arguments; (2) whether the present party is capable and willing to make such arguments; and (3) whether a proposed intervenor would offer any necessary elements to the proceeding that other parties would neglect. 9 Id. (citing California v. Tahoe Reg’l Planning Agency, 792 F.2d 775, 778 (9th Cir. 1986)). 10 Senator Pearce has not made a showing that is either compelling or very compelling 11 that Governor Brewer is not adequately representing his interest in upholding S.B. 1070. 12 Senator Pearce argues that this case is unusual because Governor Brewer is represented by 13 attorneys from a private firm, rather than by the Arizona Attorney General. (Pearce Mot. at 14 8.) Senator Pearce also argues that Governor Brewer’s briefs do not address certain aspects 15 of the law that he considers to be important, for example, severability. (Id. at 8-9.) Senator 16 Pearce states that he “is concerned that [D]efendants may not adequately represent his 17 interests” and questions “whether the law will be defended consistent with the views of the 18 legislature.” (Id. at 8.) First, as discussed above, Senator Pearce does not seek to intervene 19 on behalf of the legislature. Second, Governor Brewer’s interest is aligned with Senator 20 Pearce’s, in terms of upholding this piece of legislation. Governor Brewer has, thus far, 21 vigorously defended S.B. 1070 in multiple lawsuits proceeding both in this Court and in the 22 Court of Appeals. The issue of severability, Senator Pearce’s example, has been briefed and 23 analyzed in this case and related cases, and the Court does not perceive that Governor 24 Brewer’s defense of the law has been anything less than full-throated and able. Senator 25 Pearce has not shown that he can supply any “necessary elements to the proceeding” that the 26 current Defendants cannot. Arakaki, 324 F.3d at 1086 (emphasis added). 7 27 Senator Pearce’s Motion to Intervene as a matter of right is denied. 28 -6- 2. 1 Permissive Intervention 2 Senator Pearce also seeks permission to intervene. (Pearce Mot. at 9-10.) To intervene 3 under Rule 24(b), Senator Pearce must demonstrate: “‘(1) independent grounds for 4 jurisdiction; (2) [that] the motion is timely; and (3) [that] the applicant’s claim or defense, 5 and the main action, have a question of law or a question of fact in common.’” S. Cal. Edison 6 Co., 307 F.3d at 803 (quoting City of L.A., 288 F.3d at 403). The Court should also consider 7 whether the applicant’s interest is adequately represented by the existing parties. Venegas, 8 867 F.2d at 530-31; Tahoe Reg’l Planning Agency, 792 F.2d at 779. As explained above, 9 Senator Pearce’s interests are aligned with those of the present Defendants. The Complaint 10 filed by the United States seeks no relief against Senator Pearce, nor would he be tasked with 11 enforcing S.B. 1070 were it to fully go into effect. (See Compl. ¶¶ 61-68.) Further, the Court 12 has already concluded that Senator Pearce has not demonstrated that the Governor’s defense 13 of S.B. 1070 is inadequate, regardless of whether his asserted defense shares a question of 14 law or fact with hers. See United States ex rel. Richards v. De Leon Guerrero, 4 F.3d 749, 15 756 (9th Cir. 1993) (denying permissive intervention to group of taxpayers where governor 16 made same arguments and adequately represented their interests). 17 The Court further concludes that permitting Senator Pearce to intervene could unduly 18 delay this action, thus prejudicing the original parties. This case is already procedurally 19 complex, and there are also numerous legal actions challenging the constitutionality of S.B. 20 1070 proceeding in tandem.1 Even if Senator Pearce had met the criteria for permissive 21 intervention, the Court would exercise its discretion to deny his Motion. 22 C. Sheriff Dever’s Motion 23 Sheriff Dever requests permission to intervene in this matter. (Dever Mot. at 3.) As 24 stated above, to intervene under Rule 24(b), an applicant must demonstrate: “‘(1) 25 independent grounds for jurisdiction; (2) [that] the motion is timely; and (3) [that] the 26 1 27 28 In one related case, Senator Pearce has filed an amicus curiae brief. (See Friendly House v. Whiting, No. CV 10-1061-PHX-SRB, Doc. 386, Amicus Curiae Br. of Russell Pearce, et al.) -7- 1 applicant’s claim or defense, and the main action, have a question of law or a question of fact 2 in common.’” S. Cal. Edison Co., 307 F.3d at 803 (quoting City of L.A., 288 F.3d at 403). 3 The Court should also consider whether the applicant’s interest is adequately represented by 4 the existing parties. Venegas, 867 F.2d at 530-31; Tahoe Reg’l Planning Agency, 792 F.2d 5 at 779. Rule 23(b) expressly permits intervention by a government officer or agency if that 6 party has a claim based on “a statute or executive order administered by the officer or 7 agency.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(b)(2)(A). 8 Sheriff Dever argues that he “possesses a statutory duty to enforce all laws of the state 9 of Arizona,” including S.B. 1070, and that his interest in this matter is enhanced because “he 10 has a unique and specific perspective to present to this Court as a border sheriff, with nearly 11 84 miles of shared border and two active ports of entry.” (Dever Mot. at 4-5.) The United 12 States responds that Sheriff Dever’s interests are adequately represented by Defendants, that 13 Sheriff Dever’s intervention is unnecessary, and that Sheriff Dever’s intervention would 14 needlessly complicate this case. (Pl.’s Resp. to Dever Mot. at 2-4.) 15 While Sheriff Dever’s articulated interest is common to that of Defendants to this 16 matter, the Court finds that no showing has been made that Defendants do not adequately 17 represent this interest.2 Sheriff Dever’s interest is not substantively distinct from Governor 18 Brewer’s or the State of Arizona’s, and the Court finds that permitting his intervention would 19 be redundant and would impair the efficient progress of this lawsuit. See Tahoe Reg’l 20 Planning Agency, 792 F.2d at 779. Sheriff Dever has not identified any specific legal issue 21 in this case that requires or would benefit from his involvement, considering Governor 22 Brewer’s full participation in the defense of S.B. 1070. There are already numerous actions 23 challenging the constitutionality of this legislation, including one in which Sheriff Dever is 24 25 26 2 27 28 The Court concluded, above, that Senator Pearce failed to demonstrate that Governor Brewer’s representation of her position in this matter has been inadequate. Sheriff Dever does not make any new arguments regarding adequacy. -8- 1 named as a defendant. See Friendly House v. Whiting, No. CV 10-1061-PHX-SRB.3 Sheriff 2 Dever has also submitted a declaration in this matter, so he has obviously not been entirely 3 precluded from contributing to the litigation. (See Doc. 74, Defs.’ Resp. to Pl.’s Mot. for 4 Prelim. Inj., Ex. Y.) The Court exercises its discretion to deny Sheriff Dever’s Motion to 5 Intervene. 6 D. 7 Mr. Mack, the former Sheriff of Graham County, moves to intervene pursuant to Rule 8 24, but does not specify whether he seeks permissive or mandatory intervention. (Mack Mot. 9 at 1.) Mr. Mack first argues that certain interests are not adequately represented in the instant 10 matter. (Id. at 2-8.) Mr. Mack then argues that this deficiency constitutes an injury suffered 11 by “all Americans,” and he is an appropriate representative because he has participated in a 12 similar lawsuit and has written and spoken on pertinent issues. (Id. at 9-10.) Mr. Mack’s 13 Motion, which is more in the nature of a motion to reconsider the Court’s ruling on Plaintiff’s 14 Motion for a Preliminary Injunction than a motion to intervene, does not address many of the 15 required factors for intervention as a matter of right or permissive intervention. While Mr. 16 Mack may disagree with this Court’s conclusions regarding Plaintiff’s entitlement to a 17 preliminary injunction, he has not demonstrated that he is entitled to intervene either as a 18 matter of right or with the Court’s permission. Mr. Mack’s Motion 19 With regard to Rule 24(a), Mr. Mack has not made any arguments that convince the 20 Court that he has a “significantly protectable interest” that would be impaired or impeded by 21 the resolution of this case. See Aerojet Gen. Corp., 606 F.3d at 1148 (quoting Lockyer, 450 22 F.3d at 440). Mr. Mack has also not established that the existing Defendants are inadequately 23 representing his interest in upholding S.B. 1070. As stated above, where the government is 24 acting on behalf of a constituency that it represents, there is an assumption of adequacy in 25 26 27 28 3 On July 7, Sheriff Dever filed a Response to the Friendly House Plaintiffs’ Motion for Preliminary Injunction, in which he stated that he took “no position with regard to the constitutionality of [S.B.] 1070.” (Id., Doc. 300, Resp. of Defs. Cochise County Attorney Rheinheimer and Sheriff Dever to Mot. for Prelim. Inj. at 2.) -9- 1 the absence of a “very compelling showing” that it is inadequate; when the parties’ objectives 2 are the same, “differences in litigation strategy do not normally justify intervention.” 3 Arakaki, 324 F.3d at 1086 (citations omitted). Mr. Mack has not satisfied the test set forth 4 in Arakaki: 5 7 (1) whether the interest of a present party is such that it will undoubtedly make all of a proposed intervenor’s arguments; (2) whether the present party is capable and willing to make such arguments; and (3) whether a proposed intervenor would offer any necessary elements to the proceeding that other parties would neglect. 8 Id. (citing Tahoe Reg’l Planning Agency, 792 F.2d at 778). The Court finds that Governor 9 Brewer’s interest is parallel to Mr. Mack’s, that she is capable and willing to make the 10 arguments Mr. Mack would make in favor of it, and that Mr. Mack will not offer any 11 necessary elements to the proceeding. A difference in litigation strategy does not justify 12 intervention as a matter of right. 6 13 Mr. Mack also may not intervene under Rule 24(b). There is no case or controversy 14 between the United States and Mr. Mack, such as would provide independent grounds for 15 this Court’s jurisdiction. See S. Cal. Edison Co., 307 F.3d at 803 (quoting City of L.A., 288 16 F.3d at 403). While Mr. Mack’s asserted claim might coincide with the issues at stake in this 17 case, in light of the Court’s conclusion that Governor Brewer is adequately representing any 18 interest Mr. Mack might assert, the Court, in its discretion, denies Mr. Mack’s request for 19 permissive intervention. See Venegas, 867 F.2d at 530-31; Tahoe Reg’l Planning Agency, 20 792 F.2d at 779. 21 III. 22 23 For the reasons stated above, the Court denies the three pending Motions to Intervene in this matter. 24 25 26 27 CONCLUSION IT IS ORDERED denying State Senator Russell Pearce’s Motion to Intervene (Doc. 33). IT IS FURTHER ORDERED denying Cochise County Sheriff Larry A. Dever’s Motion to Intervene (Doc. 88). 28 - 10 - 1 2 3 4 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED denying and Richard Mack’s Motion to Intervene (Doc. 122). 5 6 DATED this 28th day of October, 2010. 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 - 11 -
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