Arpaio asks US Supreme Court for jury trial in contempt case

Former Sheriff Joe Arpaio is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to consider his request to have a jury, rather than a judge, decide whether he should be convicted of criminal contempt-of-court charge.

The lawman’s lawyers made the filing with the nation’s highest court on Wednesday , a month before he’s scheduled to be tried on the misdemeanor charge for ignoring an order to stop his immigration patrols.

The filing raises a possible scenario in which the 84-year-old is convicted of the charge and appeals the case, yet dies before his appeal is ruled on.

Jack Wilenchik, one of Arpaio’s attorneys, said in an interview that such a scenario would forever tarnish his client’s name.

Arpaio has acknowledged prolonging the patrols for months, but insists his disobedience wasn’t intentional.