Grant Murray Snow (born October 20, 1959) is an American lawyer and jurist who serves as a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Arizona. Snow was previously a state court judge on the Arizona Court of Appeals from 2002 to 2008.

G. Murray Snow
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Arizona
Assumed office
October 21, 2024
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Arizona
In office
September 4, 2018 – October 21, 2024
Preceded byRaner Collins
Succeeded byJennifer Zipps
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Arizona
In office
July 23, 2008 – October 21, 2024
Appointed byGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byStephen M. McNamee
Succeeded byvacant
Judge of the Arizona Court of Appeals
In office
2002–2008
Personal details
Born
Grant Murray Snow

(1959-10-20) October 20, 1959 (age 65)
Boulder City, Nevada, U.S.
ResidenceChandler, Arizona
EducationBrigham Young University (BA, JD)

Early life and education

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Snow was born in Boulder City, Nevada. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brigham Young University in 1984. He received a Juris Doctor from the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University in 1987.

Career

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Snow started his legal career as a law clerk for Judge Stephen H. Anderson of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit from 1987 to 1988. He was in private practice in Phoenix, Arizona, from 1988 to 2002. He was a judge on the Arizona Court of Appeals from 2002 to 2008.

Federal judicial service

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Snow was nominated by President George W. Bush on December 11, 2007, to a seat vacated by Stephen M. McNamee. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 26, 2008. He received his commission on July 23, 2008. He served as chief judge from 2018 to 2024. He assumed senior status on October 21, 2024.[1]

Notable cases

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On May 24, 2013, Snow ruled that the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (MCSO), and Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and committed acts of racial profiling against Hispanics.[2] The judge will also preside over the United States Department of Justice's lawsuit to gain access to MCSO’s documents and facilities, as part of the department’s investigation of alleged discrimination in MCSO’s police practices and jail operations.[3][4] On January 15, 2015, he announced that he would be bringing civil contempt charges against the MCSO, with a hearing to be held in April,[5] and on August 19, 2016, as one result of those proceedings, he issued an order requesting that the United States Attorney for the Arizona district prosecute Arpaio and three of his MCSO associates for criminal contempt.[6]

References

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  1. ^ G. Murray Snow at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  2. ^ "PDF of Judge Snow's ruling" (PDF). May 24, 2013. Retrieved May 25, 2013.
  3. ^ "Judge picked for records lawsuit against sheriff". Bonneville International. Associated Press. September 20, 2010. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  4. ^ "Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against Maricopa County Sheriff's Office For Refusing Full Cooperation With Title VI Investigation". The United States Department of Justice. September 2, 2010. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  5. ^ Megan Cassidy (January 16, 2015). "Judge: Arpaio will face contempt hearing in April". Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  6. ^ Kimberly Hutcherson (August 20, 2016). "Judge seeks criminal contempt charges against Sheriff Joe Arpaio". CNN. Retrieved August 20, 2016.

Sources

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Legal offices
Preceded by Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Arizona
2008–2024
Vacant
Preceded by Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Arizona
2018–2024
Succeeded by