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.