Arizona Deputy AG Sought ACLU Help 3 Times for Prison Legal Hiring
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Oct 17
Arizona Deputy AG Sought ACLU Help 3 Times for Prison Legal Hiring
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 17
Summary
Internal emails show Arizona Chief Deputy Attorney General Daniel Barr asked the ACLU and Prison Law Office in February, April and May 2023 to recommend lawyers for corrections work and the ADCRR general counsel post.
Barr said he wanted to bring more Arizona Department of Corrections legal work in-house, but the records do not show what help the groups ultimately provided; ADCRR later hired Ashley Oddo as general counsel.
The outreach drew scrutiny because Barr had previously litigated alongside both groups in prison-conditions cases, and one suggested prospect was described as already suing ADCRR in civil-rights cases.
Mayes' campaign said the attorney general has fought for police funding and worked with law enforcement, citing 27 million fentanyl pills seized, while noting the ACLU has also sued her office.
The emails surface as Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes seeks reelection after her 2022 win by just 280 votes, sharpening contrast with legal groups that back prison-population cuts and police divestment.
Why did Arizona's top legal office ask the very organizations suing its prison system to help hire its defense attorneys?
Can a state successfully reform unconstitutional prison conditions by collaborating with its fiercest courtroom adversaries on internal hiring decisions?
How will a federal receiver's unprecedented control over Arizona prison healthcare impact the ongoing legal battles over inmate conditions?