Thomas a threat to the CJ System.

From KPHO 5, a synopsis of the protest and the letter Yavapai County Attorney Sheila Polk wrote to the AZ Republic (find the complete letter here: Arpaio, Thomas are abusing power).

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Arpaio, Thomas 'Threat To The Entire Criminal-Justice System,' Judge Sheila Polk Says

POSTED: 11:12 am MST December 22, 2009

PHOENIX -- The Yavapai County Attorney is accusing Maricopa County's top law enforcers of abusing their power. In a letter to The Arizona Republic on Tuesday, Yavapai County Attorney Sheila Polk accused Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas and Sheriff Joe Arpaio of being a "threat to the entire criminal-justice system."

Like Thomas and Arpaio, Polk is a Republican. She spent six months working on the alleged public corruption cases against Supervisors Mary Rose Wilcox and Don Stapley, eventually returning the cases to Thomas' office."I am conservative and passionately believe in limited government, not the totalitarianism that is spreading before my eyes," she wrote to the Republic. "The actions of Arpaio and Thomas are a disservice to the hundreds of dedicated men and women who work in their offices."

 Maricopa County Chief Deputy David Hendershott fired back at Polk, accusing her of mishandling the cases and trying to curry favor with attorneys and politicians for a future judgeship. He also said he notified the FBI about his concerns about her handling of the investigation.Polk declined to comment on Hendershott's accusations, saying her letter to the Republic speaks for itself.

Polk is not the first member of the legal community to criticize Thomas and Arpaio for their investigations into Maricopa County leadership.On Monday, more than 300 attorneys gathered in front of the downtown courthouse to protest Thomas' filing of criminal charges against Judge Gary Donahoe.

"(Thomas) has engaged in an intentional and systematic effort to … harass and intimidate the good men and women who serve on our Superior Court," attorney Tom Ryan said at the protest. The attorneys who organized Monday's rally said they intend to campaign statewide against Thomas if he runs for Attorney General and work with the State Bar of Arizona if any action is brought against the prosecutor. Protestors also claimed Thomas consistently violates the oath of his office and routinely tramples on the Constitution....

"Fire Andy Thomas" Protest

I didn't go to this rally, but here's their news - lots of lawyers in suits, by the looks of the New Times slideshow (link at bottom). I figured they already had plenty of support - but check out this solidarity action! "Fire Andy Thomas". Wonder if the rally-organizers did that? Saw this somewhere after 8am Monday, heading west on the 202 towards 7th, I think...

Anti-Thomas rally draws more than 250 people in Phoenix

by Michael Kiefer and JJ Hensley - Dec. 22, 2009 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

 

Discontent with Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas' and Sheriff Joe Arpaio's legal battles with county officials moved to a public forum Monday and received a boost from an unexpected source with inside knowledge of their cases.

Hundreds of attorneys gathered on the courthouse steps in downtown Phoenix to protest Thomas and Arpaio's public campaign against public corruption. And, in a scathing letter to The Arizona Republic, the Yavapai County attorney, who previously handled some of Thomas' cases against county officials, blasted the prosecutor and sheriff as "a threat to the entire criminal-justice system."

Sheila Polk, a Republican and career prosecutor, spent six months working on two of the cases sought by Thomas and Arpaio in their ongoing battle against county officials and the courts. Her office handled the first criminal case against Supervisor Don Stapley

and the investigation into the disputed Superior Court tower project....

(back to the Republic article)
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Here is also a slideshow from the Phoenix News Times.