On July 21, 2000, based upon the recommendation of United States Senator
Jon Kyl from Arizona, Bolton was nominated by President
Bill Clinton to a seat on the
United States District Court for the District of Arizona vacated by
Robert C. Broomfield. She was confirmed by the
United States Senate on October 3, 2000. She received her commission on October 13, 2000. She is a registered Independent. Bolton assumed
senior status on September 1, 2016. On Wednesday, July 28, 2010, Bolton issued a ruling blocking small portions of SB 1070, writing that "requiring police to check the immigration status of those they arrest or whom they stop and suspect are in the country illegally would overwhelm the federal government's ability to respond, and could mean legal immigrants are wrongly arrested." Judge Bolton wrote: "Federal resources will be taxed and diverted from federal enforcement priorities as a result of the increase in requests for immigration status determination that will flow from Arizona." On July 31, 2017, Judge Bolton filed her "Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law" holding former Maricopa County sheriff
Joe Arpaio in criminal contempt of court for violating an injunction. President Trump pardoned Arpaio on August 25, 2017, though Judge Bolton declined to erase the conviction, ruling that the pardon spared Arpaio from sentencing but did not change the facts or the record of the case. This ruling was upheld on appeal. ==References==