The U.S. District Court in Phoenix ruled Thursday that Senate President Russell Pearce will be allowed to give oral arguments at a hearing on April 1. The hearing is to determine whether Pres. Pearce can intervene in the federal government’s lawsuit over SB 1070. Pearce is the author and sponsor of SB 1070.

“Judge Bolton made the right decision. As the architect of 1070, I believe it is critical to allow me to defend SB1070. I need to be at the table in its defense against this reckless assault by the Justice Department and the Obama Administration. Thursday’s decision is a step toward being allowed to intervene”, says Sen. Pearce, a Republican from Mesa.

On February 7, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed emergency legislation authorizing the Arizona legislature to retain counsel to help defend SB 1070 in court.

“I have been engaged in defending our borders and the rule of law for over a quarter of century, as a citizen, a deputy sheriff, a judge and as a legislator. The sovereign state of Arizona not only has a right, but an obligation to protect our citizens from those who break our laws. The Feds not only refuse to do their job, the Feds are doing everything they can to stop Arizona from enforcing the law, protecting our citizens from crime and billions in cost and protecting jobs for legal Arizona residents in trying to stop this illegal invasion. I need to be there to make the argument.”

“We are a nation of laws, and we must have the courage to enforce, with compassion but without apology, those laws that protect the integrity of our borders and the rights of our lawful citizens.”