Justice Kagan recuses herself - on Arizona immigration case

◼ The Supreme Court announced Monday it will take the case of Arizona’s tough immigration crackdown law, adding yet another contentious clash between the Obama administration and the states to its docket. - Washington Times

The case, which has attracted national attention, pits Arizona against the Obama administration, which sued and won court orders blocking implementation of most of the law at both the district and appeals court levels. Arizona’s law spawned a host of copycat laws in other states, and most of them have likewise seen their key provisions blocked by court challenges from the administration.

At stake is Arizona’s goal of granting state and local police the power to check the immigration status of persons they encounter during their duties, such as traffic stops. Administration lawyers argue the state statutes infringe on what is federal responsibility to police the borders and set immigration policy.

In its notice, the court said Justice Elena Kagan had recused herself from the decision to take the case.