Deputy Pima County Attorney Tai Summers serves in the Special Victim’s Bureau. Tai prosecuted the case of State v. Hanees Haniffa, where the Defendant was indicted on one count of luring a minor for sexual exploitation in soliciting sexual conduct from an undercover officer, posing as a minor under 15 years of age. The trial court dismissed the Dangerous Crime Against Children allegation, and the Court of Appeals upheld the ruling. The opinion affected cases all over Arizona, including potentially resulting in the resentencing of any similarly- situated offender since 2018. Tai continued to represent the State throughout the appellate process, including briefing and arguing the case before the Arizona Supreme Court. Her poise and legal acumen convinced the Arizona Supreme Court to vacate the trial court and Court of Appeals decision. For Tai’s incredible work on the Haniffa case, and the statewide impact she made on such cases, the Pinal County Attorney’s Office nominates her for Felony Appellate Prosecutor of the Year.

Assistant Attorney General Laura Chiasson won three difficult cases in the courts of appeal in 2024. In the Arizona Supreme Court, Laura briefed, argued, and won State v. Strong, a Yuma County capital case involving six homicide victims that took over five years to brief and argue. In the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Laura briefed, argued, and won Lee v. Thornell, which protected the convictions and death sentence for a 1991 La Paz County killing. Laura also helped overturn the Ninth Circuit in Thornell v. Jones, reinstating two 1992 Mohave County death sentences. Laura’s output is tremendous, both in quantity and quality, and her leadership in the Arizona Attorney General’s Office is without parallel.

Deputy Cochise County Attorney Michael Powell has distinguished himself both as a major crimes trial prosecutor and through his appellate work. Two appellate cases in particular stand out from the past year. In one case, Mr. Powell successfully litigated the issue of innominate juries before the Arizona Supreme Court. Mr. Powell also provided support in a high-profile homicide case being tried by the Santa Cruz County Attorney’s Office through an amicus curiae brief. In addressing that special action, the appellate court adopted the main arguments put forth by Mr. Powell.