Murray Snow

G. Murray Snow is a federal judge on senior status for the United States District Court for the District of Arizona. He joined the court in 2008 after being nominated by President George W. Bush. Snow became chief judge of the court in 2018.^[1] He assumed senior status on October 21, 2024.^[2]

Snow assumed senior status on October 21, 2024. On September 9, 2024, Sharad Desai was nominated to be Snow's successor.^[3]

Early life and education

Born in Boulder City, Nevada, Snow graduated from Brigham Young University with his bachelor's degree in 1984. Snow earned his Juris Doctor from Brigham Young University's J. Reuben Clark Law School in 1987.^[1]

Professional career

Following law school, Snow worked as a law clerk for the Honorable Stephen Anderson of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals from 1987 to 1988 before entering private practice in Arizona from 1988 to 2002. Snow was appointed to the Arizona Court of Appeals where he served from 2002 to 2008.^[1]

Judicial career

District of Arizona

On the recommendation of Arizona U.S. Senators John McCain and Jon Kyl, Snow was nominated to the United States District Court for the District of Arizona by President George W. Bush on December 11, 2007 to a seat vacated by Stephen McNamee. Snow was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on June 26, 2008 and received commission on July 23, 2008.^[4] He became chief judge of the court in 2018, succeeding Raner Collins. He assumed senior status on October 21, 2024.^[2]

Noteworthy cases

"Sheriff Joe" case (2010-2013)

See also: United States District Court for the District of Arizona (ORTEGA MELENDRES et al. v. Arpaio et al., No. CV-07-2513-PHX-GMS)

Judge Snow presided in a case on whether to impose sanctions on controversial Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his department. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Department was sued over its alleged widespread use of racial profiling against Hispanics.^[5]

On March 19, 2010, Judge Snow encouraged attorneys representing Maricopa County and affected immigrants who filed suit against the county to settle their case. This was after Judge Snow found grounds for federal sanctions against the sheriff's department for destroying records relating to immigration raids.^[6]^[7]

In May 2013, Judge Snow found that Arpaio and his deputies violated the rights of Latinos due to racial profiling and illegal detentions. As a result of the ruling, the sheriff's department is forbidden from using race as a reason to stop a car or detain individuals to verify citizenship, unless there is "reasonable belief" that a crime was committed.^[8]

Update

In August 2013, Judge Snow delayed a ruling on mandatory measures to improve operations of the Maricopa County Sheriff Department. With both sides deadlocked on how best to proceed, Judge Snow allowed until September 18, 2013 to submit briefs. He said, "I presume that you're now leaving it up to me to take your outline and create an order, and that's what I intend to do."^[9]

Attorneys for the sheriff and plaintiffs differ on a number of issues, including: requiring deputies to alert dispatch to the reason for a traffic stop before contacting the driver; appointing a monitor to oversee adherence to regulations; and creating an advisory board to improve the relationship between the community and the department.^[9]