Sheriff Joe Arpaio's plan to show live video of Maricopa County jail inmates on the Internet apparently was shot down Monday when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review an appeal in the case.

But Arpaio said he won't give up. "I'm fighting it," he said. "We'll see what happens."

In 2001, Arpaio began feeding live images from Madison Street Jail booking areas to a Web site. After frequent allegations of inmate abuse, the sheriff said, he wanted the world as a witness.

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Nineteen inmates, backed by a prisoner-rights group known as Middle Ground, won a temporary injunction in U.S. District Court in Phoenix. On appeal, the 9th Circuit Court rebuked Arpaio for featuring inmates on "the latest reality show" for no legitimate purpose. The U.S. Supreme Court decided Monday not to hear a further appeal.

Plaintiffs are expected to return to U.S. District Court for a permanent injunction. Scott Ambrose, an attorney for the inmates, said they also may seek monetary damages.

Arpaio vowed to resist a permanent injunction.

He said inmates were not damaged. And he noted that prisoner mug shots remain on the Internet.



Reach the reporter at dennis.wagner@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-8874.