ACLU of Utah fires attorney following aggravated assault arrest

SALT LAKE CITY — An attorney who police say fired a gun at a car in which his children were riding Friday evening is now out of a job with the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah, just days after he was hired.

The ACLU of Utah issued a brief statement Tuesday noting that attorney Aaron Kinikini is "no longer employed" at the chapter. The decision was made following Kinikini's arrest Friday evening, which happened a day after the ACLU of Utah announced Kinikini was hired as its new staff attorney.

Kinikini was arrested by Salt Lake City police on suspicion of aggravated assault, domestic violence in the presence of a child, criminal mischief, unlawful detention, and the unlawful discharge of a firearm. He remained in Salt Lake County Jail as of Monday, according to jail documents.

Police wrote in an affidavit filed in 3rd District Court that the mother of at least three of Kinikini's children arrived to pick them up at his Salt Lake City residence Friday evening. They were inside the vehicle when Kinikini "stood behind the vehicle, preventing the victim from leaving," the affidavit states.

Kinikini told police that the woman "drove at him at a high rate of speed," the document added. Police say Kinikini then fired at the vehicle with a handgun, hitting the "driver side front and rear tires." The report didn't say if anyone was injured as a result of the incident.

Prior to the announcement Thursday that he had been hired by the ACLU of Utah, Kinikini served as the legal director at the Utah Disability Law Center. He is also an active member of the Utah State Bar.

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