Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi has petitioned a judge to gain visitation rights to his family and is expected to make his argument Friday morning in San Francisco Superior Court.

Since Mirkarimi was arrested on Jan. 13, the newly elected sheriff has not been allowed to contact his wife and two-year-old child nor live at his home in the Western Addition.

Mirkarimi is fighting three misdemeanor charges -- domestic violence battery, child endangerment and dissuading a witness -- for an alleged New Year’s Eve domestic violence incident when he grabbed his wife Eliana Lopez hard enough to bruise her arm.

Last week, San Francisco Superior Court Judge Susan Breall issued a stay-away order and denied Mirkarimi his request to lift it. She said he could petition family court for visitation rights, which he has done.

Mirkarimi’s trial remains scheduled for Feb. 24.  

jsabatini@sfexaminer.com