Federal Judge Among Those Killed in AZ Shooting

PHOENIX (The Blaze/AP) — A federal law enforcement official says that a federal judge was fatally shot in the attack on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona.

U.S. Marshal for Arizona David Gonzales confirmed to the Associated Press that U.S. District Judge John Roll died in the attack Saturday.

Rolls was the chief judge in Arizona, appointed in 1991 by the first President Bush. He became chief judge in 2006.

KOLD in Tucson reports he was put under federal protection by U.S. Marshalls in 2009 after he received death threats in connection with a civil rights case he presided over.

Gonzales talked with Arizona Central in 2009 after Roll allowed a $32 million civil-rights lawsuit to proceed against a local rancher. The case was controversial because it was filed by illegal immigrants:

When Roll ruled the case could go forward, Gonzales said talk-radio shows cranked up the controversy and spurred audiences into making threats.

In one afternoon, Roll logged more than 200 phone calls. Callers threatened the judge and his family. They posted personal information about Roll online.

"They said, 'We should kill him. He should be dead,' " Gonzales said.

Roll and his wife received the protection for about a month.

Gonzales offered no other details into the shooting.

(H/T: HuffPo)