Rachel Mitchell
{{Short description|Maricopa County Attorney (born 1967)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Rachel Mitchell
| image = Rachel Mitchell by Gage Skidmore.jpg
| office = County Attorney of Maricopa County
| status =
| term_start = April 20, 2022
| term_end =
| predecessor = Allister Adel
| successor =
| term_start1 = September 5, 2019
| term_end1 = October 3, 2019
Acting
| predecessor1 = Bill Montgomery
| successor1 = Allister Adel
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1967}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Republican
| education = Grand Canyon University {{small|(BS)}}
Arizona State University {{small|(JD)}}
}}
Rachel Hope Mitchell (born 1967) is an American attorney serving as the County Attorney for Maricopa County, Arizona since April 2022. She was appointed to the position following the resignation of Allister Adel and won the 2022 special election.{{cite news |last1=Jenkins |first1=Jimmy |title=Mitchell declares victory in the Maricopa County Attorney's race; Gunnigle concedes |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2022/11/08/maricopa-county-attorney-election-results-rachel-mitchell-julie-gunnigle/10653197002/ |access-date=3 December 2022 |work=Arizona Republic |date=8 November 2022}} In 2019, she briefly served as the acting County Attorney after the appointment of Bill Montgomery to the Arizona Supreme Court.{{Cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2019/09/04/maricopa-county-board-supervisors-replace-county-attorney-bill-montgomery-rachel-mitchell/2215009001/|title=Who will replace Bill Montgomery as Maricopa County attorney?|first=Lauren Castle and Jessica|last=Boehm|website=The Arizona Republic}} Previously, she was the Chief Deputy County Attorney,{{Cite web|url=https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/rachel-mitchell-gets-top-job-at-montgomerys-office-amid-management-turmoil-11339012|title=Rachel Mitchell Gets Top Job at Montgomery's Office Amid Management Turmoil|first=Meg|last=O'Connor|date=August 8, 2019|website=Phoenix New Times}} and chief of the Special Victims Division.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/26/politics/rachel-mitchell-bio-kavanaugh-hearing/index.html|title=Woman representing Republicans at Kavanaugh hearing has lengthy history of prosecuting sex crimes|first=Veronica |last=Stracqualursi|work=CNN|access-date=September 27, 2018}}
In 2018, Mitchell rose to national prominence when she was requested by the Senate Judiciary Committee to serve as Nomination Investigative Counsel and question both Christine Blasey Ford and Brett Kavanaugh on September 27, 2018, during Kavanaugh's widely publicized confirmation hearings for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
{{cite news
| title = GOP Hires Female Sex-Crimes Prosecutor to Question Judge, Accuser
| publisher = Wall Street Journal
| url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/gop-hires-woman-to-question-judge-accuser-1537930286
| date = September 25, 2018
| access-date = September 27, 2018}}
{{cite news
| title = Who is Rachel Mitchell, the prosecutor hired to question Kavanaugh's accuser during Senate hearing?
| publisher = Fox News
| url = https://www.foxnews.com/politics/who-is-rachel-mitchell-the-prosecutor-hired-to-question-kavanaughs-accuser-during-senate-hearing/
| date = September 27, 2018
| access-date = September 27, 2018}}
{{cite news
| title = What We Know About Rachel Mitchell, the Prosecutor Set to Question Christine Blasey Ford
| work = New York Times
| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/26/us/rachel-mitchell-bio-facts.html
| date = September 26, 2018
| access-date = September 27, 2018}}
{{cite news
| title = Rachel Mitchell, an Arizona county sex crimes prosecutor, emerges as top GOP choice to question Kavanaugh accuser before committee
| work = New York Times
| url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/news/politics/wp/2018/09/25/rachel-mitchell-an-arizona-county-sex-crimes-prosecutor-emerges-as-top-gop-choice-to-question-kavanaugh-accuser-before-committee
| date = September 25, 2018
| access-date = September 27, 2018}}
Early life and education
Mitchell is a first-generation Arizonan whose father grew up on a farm in Arkansas and whose mother grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania. Mitchell attended Arizona State University in 1985, took a course at Phoenix College in the summer of 1987, and got a Bachelor of Science degree from Grand Canyon College, now known as Grand Canyon University.{{cite web |last1=Kryska |first1=Ryan |title=GCU alum at center of congressional assault hearing |url=https://news.gcu.edu/2018/09/gcu-alum-at-center-of-kavanaughs-congressional-hearing/ |publisher=Grand Canyon University News |access-date=September 28, 2018 |date=September 27, 2018}} She earned her J.D. degree in 1992 from the ASU's College of Law.{{Cite news|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2018/09/26/revelations-rachel-mitchells-2014-judicial-application/1437008002/|title=EXCLUSIVE: Rachel Mitchell: percussionist, prosecutor, martial artist.|work=azcentral|access-date=September 27, 2018|language=en}}
Mitchell worked at the Arizona Capitol Times newspaper in the late 1980s. She interviewed candidates running for elected office and wrote summaries of decisions by the courts. Mitchell later worked as adjunct faculty at Grand Canyon University, where she taught a three-credit course on the court system.
Legal career
Mitchell has been a current, registered member of the Arizona bar since 1993.{{cite web|url=https://lawyers.justia.com/lawyer/rachel-mitchell-680456|title=Rachel Mitchell|date=|publisher=Justia Law|access-date=September 27, 2018}} In 2003, Mitchell was recognized by Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano as "Outstanding Arizona Sexual Assault Prosecutor of the Year." She was promoted to the Maricopa County prosecutor's office sex crimes division chief by newly elected county attorney Andrew Thomas in 2004 to replace previous chief Cindi Nannetti.Leonard, Christina. [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24055531/ New Maricopa County attorney shakes up staff], Arizona Republic (Phoenix, Arizona) January 10, 2005, page 19 - accessed via Newspapers.com {{open access}}
Mitchell spent 12 years in charge of the sex-crimes bureau, which prosecutes crimes including adult sexual assault and child molestation.{{cite news |last1=Ryman |first1=Anne |title=ASU forms SVU to investigate sexual assaults on campus |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/arizona/investigations/2015/09/09/asu-forms-svu-unit-investigate-sexual-assaults/71705848/ |access-date=September 28, 2018 |work=The Republic |publisher=Azcentral.com |date=September 9, 2015}}
In 2014, a commission recommended her as a possible judicial candidate in Arizona.{{Cite news|url=https://heavy.com/news/2018/09/rachel-mitchell-maricopa-prosecutor-arizona-lawyer/|title=Rachel Mitchell, Maricopa AZ Prosecutor: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know|last=McBride|first=Jessica|date=September 26, 2018|work=Heavy.com|access-date=September 27, 2018|language=en-US}} Mitchell has overseen and assisted in prosecuting some high-profile sexual assault cases in Arizona, including ones against churches, youth camps, law enforcement, and members of clergy. Her most prominent case was the 2005 conviction of Rev. Paul LeBrun.{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/rachel-mitchell-prosecutor-christine-blasey-ford-kavanaugh-hearing-2018-9|title=Meet Rachel Mitchell, the woman questioning Ford about her Kavanaugh allegations at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing|last=Mark|first=Michelle|website=Business Insider|access-date=2020-02-28}}{{cite news |last1=Calderon |first1=Catherin |title=Ex-Valley church camp counselor gets 30 years for sex abuse |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2014/07/11/valley-church-camp-molestation-sentence-abrk/12524395/ |access-date=September 28, 2018 |work=The Republic |publisher=Azcentral.com |date=July 11, 2014}}{{cite news |last1=Walsh |first1=Jim |title=Judge sends ex-Mesa officer's case back to grand jury |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/mesa/2015/01/09/mesa-officer-trial-grand-jury-sex-assault/21500225/ |access-date=September 28, 2018 |work=The Republic |publisher=Azcentral.com |date=January 9, 2015}}{{cite news |last1=Walsh |first1=Jim |title=Sex-assault charges dropped for former Mesa officer |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/mesa/2015/04/28/sex-assault-charges-dropped-former-mesa-officer/26553025/ |access-date=September 28, 2018 |work=The Republic |publisher=Azcentral.com |date=April 28, 2015}} In her position in Maricopa County, she has advocated strengthening sex assault laws in the state and has pushed for changes in the courtroom to comfort victims testifying in abuse cases. Mitchell made headlines in 2016 after allowing a golden retriever mix named Sam to assist children when they were testifying about traumatic episodes.{{cite web|url=http://www.azmag.gov/Portals/0/Documents/MagContent/RDVC_2018-06-07_MIN.pdf?ver=2018-07-30-115544-823|title=Minutes of the MAG Regional Domestic Violence Council Meeting|date=June 7, 2018|publisher=Marciopa Association of Government|access-date=September 27, 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.azmag.gov/Portals/0/Documents/MagContent/RDVC_2018-04-05_MIN.pdf?ver=2018-06-04-101204-190|title=Minutes of the MAG Regional Domestic Violence Council Meeting|date=April 5, 2018|publisher=Marciopa Association of Government|access-date=September 27, 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.azmag.gov/Portals/0/Documents/MagContent/RDVC_2018-08-02_AGD-Packet.pdf?ver=2018-07-30-115512-073|title=Meeting Notification and Transmittal of Tentative Agenda|date=July 30, 2018|publisher=Marciopa Association of Government|access-date=September 27, 2018}}
Mitchell's name appears on a list of Arizona "lobbyist updates" for the week of March 26, 2018.
{{cite web
| title = Meeting Notification and Transmittal of Tentative Agenda
| publisher = Arizona Capitol Times
| url = https://azcapitoltimes.com/azlobbyists/2018/04/04/the-week-of-march-26-2018/
| date = March 26, 2018
| access-date = September 27, 2018}}
= Senate Judiciary Committee hearings (2018) =
In September 2018, Mitchell took a leave of absence from the Maricopa County Attorney's Office in order to serve as Investigative Counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee, during the confirmation hearings of Brett Kavanaugh for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.{{Cite news|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/rachel-mitchell-prosecutor-christine-blasey-ford-kavanaugh-hearing-2018-9|title=Meet Rachel Mitchell, the woman questioning Ford about her Kavanaugh allegations at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing|work=Business Insider|access-date=September 27, 2018}} She participated in the September 27, 2018 hearings of Christine Blasey Ford and Kavanaugh, concerning Ford's allegations of sexual assault towards Kavanaugh. Mitchell was brought in by the Republican senators in the committee, and questioned Ford and Kavanaugh. The committee's Democratic senators questioned Ford and Kavanaugh themselves.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/sep/27/brett-kavanaugh-rachel-mitchell-prosecutor|title=Rachel Mitchell: who is the prosecutor grilling Christine Blasey Ford?|last1=Gabbatt|first1=Adam|access-date=September 27, 2018|work=The Guardian}} During the coverage of the hearing, CBS News described Mitchell as "a career prosecutor with decades of experience prosecuting sex crimes".{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/live-news/brett-kavanaugh-hearing-live-testimony-today-after-dr-ford-sexual-assault-allegations-2018-09-27/|title=Brett Kavanaugh confirmation: Kavanaugh testifies following Ford's questioning on sex assault allegations - live updates|access-date=September 27, 2018|publisher=CBS}}
Following the hearing, she issued a memorandum concluding a reasonable prosecutor would not file charges based on the evidence before the committee.{{cite news |last1=de Vogue |first1=Ariane |title=Outside counsel tells Republican senators 'reasonable prosecutor' would not bring Ford case against Kavanaugh |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/30/politics/rachel-mitchell-kavanaugh-ford/index.html |access-date=October 1, 2018 |work=USA Today |date=October 1, 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Price |first1=Greg |title=Christine Blasey Ford's Case Weaker Than 'He Said, She Said," Says GOP-Hired Sex Crimes Lawyer |url=https://www.newsweek.com/christine-blasey-ford-testimony-prosecutor-lawyer-1146361 |access-date=October 7, 2018 |work=Newsweek |date=October 1, 2018}} The memo was criticized for drawing conclusions based on too little evidence.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-tuesday-edition-1.4846987/lawyer-calls-out-rachel-mitchell-over-misleading-kavanaugh-memo-1.4846990|title=Lawyer calls out Rachel Mitchell over 'misleading' Kavanaugh memo {{!}} CBC Radio|work=CBC|access-date=2018-10-15|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/experts-question-gop-prosecutors-memo-on-christine-blasey-ford/2018/10/01/85a454c0-c5a2-11e8-b1ed-1d2d65b86d0c_story.html|title=Experts question GOP prosecutor's memo on Christine Blasey Ford|newspaper=Washington Post|language=en|access-date=2018-10-15}}
On September 29, 2018, and October 6, 2018, Mitchell was portrayed by actress Aidy Bryant in the Saturday Night Live opening sketch, and referred to in the "Weekend Update" segment.{{cite news |last1=Pallotta |first1=Frank |title='SNL' has Matt Damon play an angry Brett Kavanaugh |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/30/entertainment/saturday-night-live-season-premiere/index.html |access-date=September 30, 2018 |work=CNN |date=September 30, 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Tuchiano |first1=Danielle |title=Matt Damon Appears as Brett Kavanaugh in 'Saturday Night Live' Premiere (Watch) |url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/saturday-night-live-season-44-premiere-matt-damon-brett-kavanaugh-1202962475/ |access-date=September 30, 2018 |work=Variety |date=September 29, 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Gilbert |first1=Sophie |title=Saturday Night Live Whiffs the Kavanaugh Confirmation |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/10/saturday-night-live-kavanaugh-confirmation/572425/ |access-date=October 7, 2018 |work=The Atlantic |date=October 7, 2018}}
= Acting County Attorney =
In August 2019, Montgomery promoted Mitchell to Chief Deputy at the county attorney's office.{{Cite web|url=https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/rachel-mitchell-gets-top-job-at-montgomerys-office-amid-management-turmoil-11339012|title=Rachel Mitchell Gets Top Job at Montgomery's Office Amid Management Turmoil|last=O'Connor|first=Meg|date=2019-08-08|website=Phoenix New Times|access-date=2020-04-06}} Mitchell got the job after Montgomery's longtime chief deputy Mark Faull left on medical leave and his replacement Michael McVey was accused of having an inappropriate relationship with another county employee. After Montgomery resigned to take a seat on the state supreme court, Mitchell became acting county attorney until the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors selected an interim to fill out the remainder of Montgomery's term.{{Cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2019/09/09/heres-how-maricopa-county-replace-county-attorney-bill-montgomery/2237027001/|title=Here's how Maricopa County will replace Bill Montgomery as county attorney|first=Jessica Boehm and Lauren|last=Castle|website=The Arizona Republic}} Mitchell, along with Jon Eliason, Allister Adel, Rodney Glassman, John Kaites, Gina Godbehere, Chris DeRose, and Lacy Cooper, applied for the position.{{Cite web|url=https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/maricopa-county-montgomery-appoint-supervisors-republican-2020-11360589|title=One of These Eight People Will Be the Next County Attorney Until 2021|first=Meg|last=O'Connor|date=September 19, 2019|website=Phoenix New Times}}
After the Board selected Adel for the County Attorney role, Ken Vick became chief deputy and Mitchell became the deputy chief for the criminal group.{{Cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2019/10/12/county-attorney-allister-adel-names-ken-vick-replace-rachel-mitchell-chief-deputy/3948191002/|title=Allister Adel shakes up staff at Maricopa County Attorney's Office|first=Lauren|last=Castle|website=The Arizona Republic}}
= County Attorney =
Adel resigned in March 2022.{{cite web |title=Maricopa County Attorney Allister Adel announces resignation following months of turmoil |date=March 21, 2022 |url=https://www.abc15.com/news/local-news/investigations/dishonorable/maricopa-county-attorney-allister-adel-announces-resignation |publisher=ABC15 |access-date=25 March 2022}} The following month, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors appointed Mitchell as the interim county attorney.{{cite news |last1=Jenkins |first1=Jimmy |title=Rachel Mitchell appointed interim Maricopa County attorney |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix-breaking/2022/04/20/rachel-mitchell-appointed-interim-maricopa-county-attorneyrachel-mitchell-appointed-interim-maricopa/7383561001/ |access-date=22 April 2022 |work=The Arizona Republic |date=20 April 2022}}
Mitchell was the Republican nominee in the 2022 special election defeating Anni Foster and Gina Godbehere for the nomination. 2020 nominee Julie Gunnigle was unopposed for the Democratic nomination.{{cite news |last1=Jenkins |first1=Jimmy |title=These 4 candidates for Maricopa County attorney will be on the ballot |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/04/12/these-candidates-appear-ballot-maricopa-county-attorney/7284869001/ |access-date=22 April 2022 |work=The Arizona Republic |date=12 April 2022}} Mitchell defeated Gunnigle in the general election with 52.8% of the vote.{{cite web |title=2022 General Election Results |url=https://elections.maricopa.gov/asset/jcr:5add2721-c3e7-43ca-9e7b-9351cdd8dc88/ElectionSummaryReportRPT_11082022_11212022.pdf}}
Recognition
Mitchell was named the prosecutor of the year by her office in 2006.{{Cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/who-is-rachel-mitchell-the-prosecutor-set-to-question-christine-blasey-ford/|title=Who is Rachel Mitchell, the Prosecutor Set to Question Christine Blasey Ford?|date=2018-09-25|website=The Seattle Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-06}} Later in her career, she was recognized as the “Outstanding Arizona Sexual Assault Prosecutor of the Year” by Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano and state attorney general Terry Goddard.{{cite news|url=https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/national/who-rachel-mitchell-the-woman-who-will-questioning-ford-kavanaugh/2AyV5TdnxtIBX9YagGes2I/|title=Who is Rachel Mitchell, the woman who will be questioning Ford, Kavanaugh?|last= Lord|first=Debby|access-date=September 27, 2018|publisher=Dayton Daily News}}
Paul Rutherford case
{{Update|section|date=May 2024}}
In Nov. 2022, a bar complaint was filed against Rachel Mitchell for her part in the Paul Rutherford case.{{cite news |last=Biscobing |first=Dave |date=November 4, 2022 |title=Bar complaint filed against County Attorney, top prosecutors |work=ABC15 |publisher=Scripps Local Media |url=https://www.abc15.com/news/local-news/investigations/bar-complaint-filed-against-county-attorney-top-prosecutors |access-date=April 9, 2023}} Defense attorneys acting for Ms. Nubia Rodriguez allege that Ms Mitchell had contributed to prosecutorial misconduct committed by Maricopa County prosecutors in an attempt to get their client convicted of negligent homicide in the death of Phoenix police officer Paul Rutherford. Prosecutors are alleged to have knowingly included false witness statements and withheld critical video evidence from the defense.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.c-span.org/person/?115930 Appearances on] C-Span.org
- [https://www.axios.com/brett-kavanaugh-rachel-mitchell-prosecutor-memo-2c3233cc-1d42-416b-af04-02700aa9a711.html Mitchell's memo] to Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, September 30, 2018, at Axios.com
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchell, Rachel}}
Category:20th-century American lawyers
Category:20th-century American women lawyers
Category:21st-century American lawyers
Category:21st-century American women lawyers
Category:American women academics
Category:Arizona State University alumni
Category:District attorneys in Arizona
Category:Grand Canyon University alumni
Category:Grand Canyon University faculty
Category:People from Maricopa County, Arizona