Tobin Sidles Prosecutor Lifetime Achievement Nomination

James Eustace joined the Yuma County Attorney’s Office in 2002, and specialized in prosecuting dangerous crimes against children for over a decade. As a military veteran, he has used his wisdom and leadership skills to mentor many prosecutors and other specialists. For many years, Jim was an associate professor, teaching legal subjects to the community’s future professionals and law enforcement officers. Most recently, he has been instrumental in establishing the Yuma County Early Disposition Court with amazing results. Jim has been indispensable to the achievements of the office over the past 20+ years.

Kenneth Flint retired in February 2025 after thirty years of dedicated government service. He was an accomplished municipal prosecutor for the City of Scottsdale City Attorney’s Office Prosecution Division, serving in that role for twenty-six years. Ken was especially skilled in appellate and motion practice, litigating thousands of motions and hundreds of appeals in the Maricopa County Superior Court, Arizona Court of Appeals and Arizona Supreme Court. Ken was not only a valuable resource for the City of Scottsdale but for prosecutors throughout the State who regularly reached out to him to assist with complex appellate issues including requests for amicus briefs.

Stephen Kiholm has been a prosecutor in the Yuma County Attorney’s Office for almost thirty-three years. He supervises felony attorneys while prosecuting a full case load. Steve has prosecuted numerous first degree murder and other violent cases, successfully taking many of them to trial. He is a wealth of knowledge with a good sense of humor. Yuma County Attorney’s Office has been lucky to have him as a loyal servant of the Yuma Community for all these years.

The Phoenix City Prosecutor’s Office nominates Amy Offenberg for the Prosecutor Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her twenty-six-year career dedicated to public service and legal excellence. Starting in trial work in 1999, Amy specialized in domestic violence (DV) advocacy and significantly impacted DV-related initiatives, including participating in conferences and committees. Transitioning to appellate law in 2015, she managed eighty-two appeals, shaping legal precedent in Arizona with key victories in several notable cases. Amy’s vast caseload also includes handling 758 motions and post conviction relief petitions. Beyond her legal work, she contributed to committee work, modernized office procedures, and mentored many attorneys. Amy’s leadership in improving DV and appellate practices, her dedication to mentorship, and her unwavering commitment to justice highlight her exceptional career, making her a deserving candidate for this award.

Charlie Platt has worked in the Yuma County Attorney’s Office since 1994. During this time, he has served in both the Civil and Criminal Divisions, holding just about every prosecutor position in the office. For the past twenty years, he has specialized in post conviction relief proceedings and sexually violent predator cases. In recognition of his years of service, dedication, and office contributions, the Yuma County Attorney’s Office nominates Charlie for a Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Pima County Attorney’s Office is proud to nominate Robin Schwartz for the Prosecutor Lifetime Achievement Award. Robin began her career in Amarillo, Texas at the Potter County Attorney’s Office in 2003. In 2006, Robin joined the Pima County Attorney’s Office, and was lead trial prosecutor in the wide ranging Daughters-White litigation that ended defense efforts to obtain the “source code” for the Intoxilizer. Robin has tried almost every type of case in the office, from DUIs to homicides, distinguishing herself with her knowledge in and commitment to prosecuting DUI and DUI-related offenses, twice winning the Mother’s Against Drunk Driving Felony Prosecutor Of The Year Award. Her knowledge and experience, as well as her willingness and aptitude for mentoring, have made her an integral and valuable member of the Pima County Attorney’s Office..

Steven Sisneros has worked at the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office for more than twenty years. He received APAAC’s 2006 Misdemeanor Prosecutor of the Year Award. Steven moved to felony cases, serving in many capacities, including “PANT” prosecutor with a huge caseload of serious narcotics cases and instructing at the law enforcement academy. He twice received Yavapai County Attorney’s Office’s Felony Prosecutor of the Year Award and was nominated for Mother’s Against Drunk Driving’s Excellence in Adjudication Award. Steven always volunteers where needed and enjoys an excellent reputation with law enforcement. He became the Charging Bureau Supervisor in 2017, where nearly two-thirds of all felony cases in Yavapai County are resolved, allowing felony trial teams to devote their time to the remaining cases. Through it all, Steven ensures justice is done in every case, and making sure victims’ voices are heard, defendants’ rights are scrupulously complied with, and just resolutions are achieved to protect the community and punish criminals.

The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office nominates Ken Vick for the 2025 Prosecutor Lifetime Achievement Award. Ken has been a prosecutor with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office since September 1996. In those nearly 29 years, Ken has served in nearly every capacity at the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. His work history reads like a model prosecutor’s career outline—starting in the Trial Division like all young prosecutors, Ken earned his way to handling a specialized caseload in Vehicular Crimes, then was moved to a key training role with the office. Early in his career, Ken was recognized by the then county attorney to be the excellent manager that he is and he was promoted to management of young lawyers where he was able to mentor and teach them about prosecution practice.

With twenty-five years of dedicated service in the pursuit of justice, Patrick Zinicola is a beacon of integrity, skill, and successful conviction. Over these years, Patrick has demonstrated unparalleled expertise in felony prosecution, forged strong relationships with surrounding law enforcement agencies, and mentored numerous young attorneys. Throughout his career, Patrick has been driven by a singular goal: to ensure that justice is served for all. He believes in protecting the rights of victims—advocating tirelessly on their behalf—and exercises dogged persistence to ensure that those who commit heinous acts are held accountable. Of the twenty-two homicides that Patrick has resolved to date in Navajo County, he has a 100% conviction rate, securing plea agreements or jury convictions in all of the cases. In recognition of Patrick’s legacy of excellence and tireless work for justice in the community, the Navajo County Attorney’s Office nominates him for the 2025 Prosecutor Lifetime Achievement Award.

Lewis Brandes personifies the commitment to excellence, work ethic, and passion for victim advocacy that every prosecutor should strive to achieve. For over 30 years, Lew has worked as a prosecutor at the Pima County Attorney’s Office, trying well over 100 jury trials with assignments in nearly every unit of the office. Lew’s willingness to mentor and treat others with kindness, coupled with his great sense of humor, makes him one of the most dynamic figures within the Pima County Attorney’s Office. Lew is distinguished by his empathy for victims and his drive to ensure they receive justice. He particularly made an impact in prosecution cases where animals were abused, giving them a voice they otherwise would not have. Lew is recognized for his lifetime dedication to serving others.

Jim "J.D." Nielsen is a true Arizona prosecutor. J.D. joined the Arizona Attorney General’s Office in 1991, starting in the organized crime and fraud section. He then transferred to criminal appeals in 1996 and eventually began working exclusively in capital litigation. J.D. is likely the foremost habeas practitioner in the State of Arizona. His depth of knowledge is only eclipsed by his cutting wit, as anyone who knows J.D. can attest. Though he started his career as a trial lawyer, J.D. found his niche in criminal appellate litigation. He has mentored countless attorneys over the past 30 years and has left an indelible mark on Arizona law and the legal community at large. J.D. is recognized for his consistent dedication to the rule of law and his many contributions to the administration of justice.

Deputy Yavapai County Attorney Dana Owens is the 2022 recipient of the Arizona State Bar Association’s Distinguished Public Lawyer Award and has been a prosecutor for twenty-one years. Throughout her career, Dana handled a heavy caseload of serious felonies, supervised the Yavapai County Attorney’s Camp Verde Office, as well as the misdemeanor unit, the appellate team, and paralegals, in addition to overseeing the in-house attorney training. Dana currently leads the office’s diversion program – a program that Dana largely created out of whole cloth – and supervises the office’s drug prosecution unit. Dana also teaches prospective law enforcement officers at the Northern Arizona Regional Training Academy, serves on Yavapai County’s Overdose Fatality Review Board (an entity that Dana helped create), regularly partners on many projects with MATFORCE (the office’s substance abuse coalition), and volunteers with various agencies throughout northern Arizona, including volunteering as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Dana assisted in the creation of the Arizona Intimate Partner Risk Assessment Instrument (APRAIS), a lethality assessment tool used in Arizona and other states by law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and judges to make better-informed decisions about a suspect’s risk of harm to domestic violence victims.

Gary Shupe has had a distinguished 26-year prosecutorial career. In the last quarter century, Gary has consistently made important contributions to the protection of public safety and the administration of justice through both appellate advocacy and training prosecutors throughout Arizona. Gary was an excellent trial prosecutor but has truly distinguished himself as an appellate advocate for more than two decades. Gary is responsible for numerous published decisions that have benefited prosecutors throughout Arizona, and he has routinely shared his knowledge and experience by presenting at APAAC conferences and CLE events, among others. Throughout Gary’s career, he has been a model of dedication and commitment to the prosecutorial role. He is well-known and well-respected for his intelligence, judgment, kindness, humility, and always upholding the highest ethical standards.

Leroy “Rod” Albright has practiced law since 1983 and has been an Arizona licensed attorney with the Mohave County Attorney’s Office since 2003. Rod is a seasoned veteran of the office and helps mentor new attorneys with an unmatched disposition and appropriate amount of levity. Rod joined the office after retiring from the U.S. Marine Corps-Judge Advocate after nearly 20 years of service to his country. He has completed over fifty-five (55) felony jury trials in his career with the Mohave County Attorney’s Office. Recently, he obtained a hard-fought conviction for manslaughter in a weeklong trial filled with twists and turns – helping to bring justice to the surviving family members. His trial records also include noteworthy accolades from a victim regarding the conviction of a serial arsonist.

Dale Cardy has spent most of his 25-year career as the supervisor of the Pima County Attorney’s Office Juvenile Unit. He has been involved with the Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative since 2004, resulting in a significant reduction in the number of detained juveniles who are not a threat to the community. This is one example out of a number of juvenile justice initiatives with which Dale has been involved. Dale gives all victims the upmost attention and respect, whether it be a misdemeanor theft case or homicide. Dale strives to instill his values in all his attorneys when it comes to the handling of cases, timeliness, attention, and detail. Not only is Dale a great leader and attorney, he is an all-around great person.

Robert Edwards has devoted more than 20 years to seeking justice for often the most innocent and helpless victims of our society. As Navajo County’s lead child and sex crimes prosecutor, Robert demonstrates a remarkable ability to balance the demands of a complex and emotionally charged caseload with a deep compassion and fierce commitment to victims. The details of these crimes can be chilling and can exact a terrible toll on prosecutors, often leading to burnout. But Robert’s decades in this field have forged an ever-greater resolve to stand for those who can’t always count on the people in their lives to support and protect them.

Carol Kennedy has been a dedicated career prosecutor with the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office for over 19 years. She has devoted almost her entire legal career to seeking justice and protecting victims. In fact, in 2019, Carol was nominated for the Excellence in Victim Advocacy Award. Carol was hired in early 2004 and has remained with Yavapai County the entire time. In Carol’s first year, she handled misdemeanor cases in the far-flung Justice Courts. In 2005 Carol transitioned to the Charging Division dealing with the full range of felony cases. In 2009 Carol took over as the sole juvenile prosecutor. In 2013, Carol transitioned to the Civil Division for 18 months. In 2014, Carol rejoined the Charging Division and became a pillar of efficiency and the bedrock of Charging. She regularly works long hours to meet ever-present deadlines and to keep our Early Disposition Court the wild success that it is.

Dennis McGrane joined the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office in 1995, and was appointed Chief Deputy in 2001. In June of 2008, he became a Judge Advocate General in the Army National Guard and in 2021, was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. His remarkable career as an Arizona prosecutor spans twenty-seven years and is marked with many well-deserved accolades including the 2001 nominee for the APAAC Felony Prosecutor of the Year for Small Counties, the 2017 APAAC Appellate Prosecutor of the Year, and the 2017 Jack Ogg Community Service Award from the Yavapai County Bar Association. These awards capture the hallmarks of a true prosecutor—a career dedicated to justice, impeccable integrity and ethics, a passion for learning and performing to the best of his ability, outstanding success in the courtroom, a stellar reputation, the willingness to help and mentor others, and unwavering professionalism.

Allan Perkins has dedicated his career to protecting the communities in which he has chosen to live. Spending nearly 30 years in the pursuit of justice, Allan has remained a constant in the State not only as a prosecutor, but as the consummate example of what a prosecutor should be. Serving as a prosecutor in multiple jurisdictions, Allan has been appointed as the Chief Deputy to three separate County Attorneys in two different jurisdictions. Bringing professionalism and dignity to the position, Allan is respected by the judges he appears in front of, the defense bar that he challenges, and the victims he protects. Prosecuting the most difficult cases his entire career, he is the prosecutor’s prosecutor.

Beth Beringhaus has been a prosecutor with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office since 1999. She has had numerous and various assignments during her career and became the Division Chief of the Juvenile Crimes Division in 2013, where she has been ever since. At all times in her career, Ms. Beringhaus has been extremely hardworking and dedicated, and has never considered a task beneath her. As Juvenile Division Chief, not only is she a statewide expert on juvenile law and related issues, but she also plays a significant role on the adult prosecution side by volunteering for various tasks, including callout for officer involved shootings. Ms. Beringhaus’ professionalism, knowledge, and ability to work with others have resulted in the prosecution of juvenile offenders who pose a true threat to the community and have prevented attacks on the juvenile justice system. She has devoted nearly twenty-five years to prosecuting with integrity.

Bill Hughes joined the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office in 2002 and now serves as Chief Criminal Deputy. His career is marked with many well-deserved accolades including the Outstanding Misdemeanor Prosecutor in 2003, the Outstanding Felony Prosecutor in 2008, and the David R. White Excellence in Victim Advocacy Award in 2020 for Yavapai County; the Felony Prosecutor of the Year for Small Jurisdictions in 2012 by APAAC; and in 2020, the prestigious Michael C. Cudahy Criminal Justice Award from the Arizona State Bar. These awards capture the hallmarks of a true prosecutor—a career dedicated to justice, impeccable integrity and ethics, a passion for learning and performing to the best of his ability, outstanding success in the courtroom, a stellar reputation, the willingness to help and mentor others, and unwavering professionalism.

Lisa Marie Martin joined the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office in 2003 and worked as a Deputy County Attorney in the MCAO Appeals Bureau for eighteen years. Ms. Martin has provided countless hours of research and legal advice to trial prosecutors in some of the office’s most complex cases and cases of community interest. Ms. Martin argued five times in the Arizona Supreme Court and represented the State of Arizona in over 16 published appellate opinions, including State v. Bernstein (interpreting proper application of Arizona Rule of Evidence 702) and State v. Steinle (Moran) (whether Arizona Rule of Evidence 403 required exclusion of an excerpt from a cellphone video recorded by a witness to a stabbing).

Michael “Mike” Baker began his prosecutorial career as a Deputy Mohave County Attorney in 1984. He joined the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office in 1986 and has served in a variety of capacities, including trial attorney, mentor, charging and grand jury attorney, assistant bureau chief and bureau chief. During his career, Mr. Baker has tried many violent and complex cases, reviewed approx. 15,000 submittals for charging, and presented a significant number of matters before the Grand Jury. He generously shares his encyclopedic knowledge of case law with other attorneys. After 36 years as a prosecutor, he continues to be a dedicated, consummate professional.

Bunkye Chi joined the Pima County Attorney’s Office in 1997 as a law clerk. After law school, she began her prosecutorial career in the Misdemeanor Unit in January 2000. She was assigned to the Special Victim’s Unit for six years, working with vulnerable victims and handling some of the office’s most difficult cases. Since 2010, Ms. Chi has been assigned to the Juvenile Unit where she has taken the lead in developing the Juvenile Mental Health Diversion Program. She has consistently distinguished herself by working tirelessly to advance the principles of criminal justice by representing the public’s interest with integrity, fairness, and professionalism.

Liliana Ortega has been a prosecutor for 20 years and has dedicated her life to public service. She has worked in the Pima County Attorney’s Office as a Deputy County Attorney, in the Greenlee County Attorney’s Office as the Chief Deputy, and is currently the Chief Criminal Deputy for the Santa Cruz County Attorney’s Office. Ms. Ortega has always maintained the highest standards in prosecution and leadership, and has set an outstanding example for us all. She serves our office, community, and profession with strength, empathy, integrity, and humility. She will leave a lasting impression on all those individuals she has served and touched as a prosecutor.

Peter Spaw leads the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office’s Asset Recovery Bureau - an area under constant scrutiny and where good judgment is essential. Over his 20-year career as a prosecutor, Mr. Spaw has anticipated the issues that would most likely arise and has ensured that he stayed in front of them. Mr. Spaw leads by example, interacting with and training law enforcement partners, and handling many of the most difficult cases himself. He is widely considered to be an expert in this field … because he is.

Steve Young joined the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office in 1997 as a misdemeanor prosecutor. Today, Mr. Young is our go-to veteran with a lifetime of hard-won trials under his belt, the wisdom that comes from years of experience, a never-ending willingness to help others, and the timeless commitment to seek justice in every case. Mr. Young epitomizes everything a prosecutor should be—a top performer who constantly seeks greater legal expertise and knowledge, who never hesitates to assist his peers, and who can be counted on to step up without being asked. He is truly a man of integrity, hard work, and proven dedication to making our communities safer.

Robert Brown’s commitment to excellence in seeking justice through the prosecution of misdemeanor cases spans a career of nearly 29 years throughout rural Arizona. Mr. Brown's journey began in the Mohave County Attorney's office, then on to the Cochise County Attorney's Office, followed by the Navajo County Attorney’s Office. The past 15 years have seen Mr. Brown make his home in Flagstaff, prosecuting 1300-1500 misdemeanors a year, advising and mentoring new (and not-so-new) prosecutors, training and educating defense counsel and judges in myriad ways, and performing his duties ethically – always. He is known as “Encyclopedia Brown” among his colleagues.

Bruce Chalk has been a Deputy County Attorney with the Pima County Attorney’s Office since January 1994, where he began his career as a law clerk in 1992. Currently, Mr. Chalk is a Senior Prosecutor in the Charging Unit and has been supervisor of the Crime Strategies Unit, the Violent Offenses/Gang Unit, Property Unit, and the Vehicular Offenses Unit. He has tried 123 felony jury trials, prosecuting numerous high-profile cases. Over the years, he has made significant contributions to the prosecution of DUI offenders and has become a widely recognized expert in the field of DUI and vehicular homicide prosecution. Mr. Chalk has dedicated his career to criminal prosecution and public safety.

Mark Faull was appointed to serve as the Chief Deputy of the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office in November of 2010 and served in that capacity until April of 2019. Mr. Faull was responsible for providing management and supervision for the daily operations for over 900 employees, including over 350 attorneys who provide a full range of prosecution functions as well as civil legal representation to all sectors of Maricopa County Government. In this role, he also supported numerous other County Attorney’s Offices in the State of Arizona through the Chief Deputy’s group, served on numerous committees and workgroups of APAAC, and shared resources and advice on how to carry out our shared mission of pursuing justice. He has given generously of his personal and professional time to the prosecution function.

Keith D. Manning began his prosecutor career in 1992 with the Pima County Attorney’s Office and worked at the City of Phoenix Prosecutor’s Office from 1993 until 1995, when he began his career with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. Through 2004, Mr. Manning continued training new prosecutors in the areas of DUI law and trial advocacy, as well as teaching for APAAC. In 2006, he began service as a Law Enforcement Liaison, working to enhance training and cooperation with Valley law enforcement agencies throughout Maricopa County. Keith Manning has made an invaluable contribution to the training and development of prosecutors in Arizona, the professional response to offer use of force incidents across the country, and the general improvement and enhancement of the prosecution function in our country.

Robert "Bob" Moon began his legal career in 1979 as a prosecutor with the Mohave County Attorney's Office. Mr. Moon spent over 15 years as a Superior Court Judge but returned to his true passion as a prosecutor about 9 years ago. His stoic meekness, intelligence, and professionalism are known throughout all of Mohave County. Not only does he mentor young prosecutors, while he juggles serious homicide and other felony cases, he has completed 20 felony jury trials since his return from the bench. Outside of work, Mr. Moon is the ideal prosecutor in that he is actively involved in worthy civil, educational, and youth activities that reflect his exceptional personal and professional qualities.

Mitch Rand graduated from the Thomas M. Cooley School of Law in 1987. Mr. Rand began his career at the Maricopa County Attorney’s office in November of 1987. He has served the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office with distinction as a Deputy County Attorney, a Bureau Chief and as an interim Division Chief. Mr. Rand has been the recipient of many distinguished and well-deserved awards in his time as a prosecutor. He is an enthusiastic leader who is respected by police, court staff, defense attorneys, and his peers. He has shown repeatedly in his 30 years of service that his commitment to public safety is unwavering.

Liz Barrick is a true Arizona prosecutor. During her career, she worked at the Attorney General’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. Ms. Barrick began her career as a Victim Advocate in 1993. After law school, she began her prosecution career at the Attorney General’s Office in 2000 and developed an interest in complex drug trafficking and wiretap cases. She became a true expert on drug prosecutions, including 4th Amendment law and all aspects of wiretaps. Ms. Barrick is known for her exceptional legal analysis, creativity in overcoming investigative hurdles, and fairness.

Mark Diebolt’s prosecutorial career began with the Pima County Attorney’s Office in March 1997. He is currently assigned to the Major Crimes Bureau where he tries homicides, gun crimes, and gang crimes. A large percentage of his casework has involved gang-related prosecutions. While the Office does not track the number of gang-related cases, during his 21 years with the Pima County Attorney’s Office, Mr. Diebolt has tried an almost unparalleled number of felony jury trials – 313. Of those, he has undertaken 44 homicide trials.

Sue Eazer epitomizes everything we value in a career prosecutor. She is a hard-charging, fair prosecutor with impeccable ethics and a profound commitment to justice. Her career as a prosecutor in Arizona spans more 27 years. Sue has tried more than 200 serious felony jury trials including numerous capital cases, child molestations, elder financial fraud, and other homicides. Ms. Eazer instinctively employs a victim-centered approach to every case she handles striving to reduce the trauma and earning the trust and confidence of the victims. Arizonans are fortunate that Sue recognized her calling and has dedicated her life to our profession.

Barb Marshall has been a DCA with MCAO since 1986. During her 32 year career, she handled every conceivable assignment in the office, and volunteered to handle a host of other duties, both internal and external, which have improved the professionalism of both MCAO and the criminal justice system. Indeed, she has had her fingerprints on almost every MCAO process developed or improved during her time with the office.

Jeannette Gallagher graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with a degree in social work and worked as a social worker for both the Wisconsin and Arizona Child Protective Services agencies. Ms. Gallagher later graduated from the University of Arizona, College of Law and joined the Pima County Attorney’s Office. Ms. Gallagher has thereafter been tirelessly prosecuting cases since 1989. She joined our office May 2000. Jeannette meticulously prepares every one of her cases and provides incredible guidance and exceptional support to Victims. It is difficult to put into words the passion she has for prosecution, and the compassion she has for crime Victims. Every one of the attorneys in her bureau has benefitted tremendously from having her as a supervisor – including realizing the extraordinary level of preparation needed in capital litigation, having the opportunity to observe (and hopefully learn from) Ms. Gallagher in trial – especially with expert witnesses, and, for the fortunate few, experiencing the opportunity to co-try cases with her.

Doyle Johnstun has engaged in the pursuit of justice for the citizens of Cochise County for the last 23 years. Prior to this he worked in the Yuma County Attorney's Office. Mr. Johnstun's work ethic, knowledge, and skill are simply unparalleled. Serving as the Chief Criminal Deputy since 2007, he has overseen the creation of our Early Resolution Court system, the transition away from law enforcement filing felony cases, and has personally tried some of the most serious cases in our office. All the while, he has remained humble, approachable, and kind.

A thirty (30) year, career prosecutor and prior APAAC Felony Prosecutor of the Year recipient (1992), Mr. Varela maintains the highest regard for ethics and competency. He has committed himself and the better part of his career to the pursuit of justice and the betterment of his community. Having handled thousands of felony cases and an abundance of jury trials, including some that involved multiple homicides and capital sentences, he is an inspiration to our office, and represents the very best that a public prosecutor has to offer. His character and dedication to public service and to ensuring the preservation of rights for crime victims are unparalleled. He is always available to assist others and is held in high regard not only by his colleagues but his community as well. Tom Varela is the embodiment of the high standard that all public prosecutors might hope to achieve.

Jace Zack is an outstanding example of what a prosecutor can contribute to his community and the administration of justice. Mr. Zack deserves the Lifetime Achievement Award because he is an insightful, articulate and honorable prosecutor. His career is a textbook example of how a person with integrity, fairness, and professionalism can uphold the highest demands of public trust. His extraordinary contributions as a prosecutor to the practice of law, public trust and careers of countless lawyers and judges should be recognized as exemplary.

Beth Barnes has been a prosecutor for the City of Phoenix Prosecutor’s Office since 1991. During her nearly 25 years as a prosecutor, she has distinguished herself as a resource in Arizona and throughout the country in traffic safety law. She has worked as both a trial attorney and an appellate attorney, and has argued before the Arizona Supreme Court, the Arizona Court of Appeals, and the Federal District Court of Arizona. One of her greatest contributions to prosecution has been the education of countless prosecutors statewide and throughout the country. Early in her career, Ms. Barnes became a mentor and resource for new attorneys in the Phoenix Prosecutor’s Office, helping attorneys grow their trial and appellate skills. She continued on that path and has become a resource on DUI and other traffic-safety related issues for prosecutors and law enforcement officers nationwide.

Mike Morrison’s career as a prosecutor in Arizona spans nearly 33 years. During that time, he has worked in the Phoenix City Prosecutor’s Office, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, with the City of Glendale as the police legal advisor, and now, luckily for Yavapai County, as a prosecutor in our Verde Valley district. During his distinguished career, Mr. Morricson has handled literally all aspects of the job, from misdemeanors to capital offenses, from line prosecutor to supervisor of large bureaus, from training to attorney mentoring. He truly epitomizes everything we value in a career prosecutor. He has impeccable ethics, a profound commitment to justice, is an incredibly hard worker, and is an excellent trial attorney and prosecutor. Arizonans are fortunate that Mr. Morrison recognized his calling and has dedicated his life to our profession.

Paul Lauritzen received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Iowa in 1976, graduating magna cum laude, and was admitted to the Arizona Bar in 1979. He was hired by the Pima County Attorney’s Office in 1980, where he has remained, singularly steadfast in his commitment to the protection of the public and the administration of justice in Pima County. Mr. Lauritzen is an accomplished and respected prosecutor, with more than 150 felony jury trials under his belt; he is a mentor and a role model for his peers and the newer generation of prosecutors. His contributions to the Pima County Attorney’s Office are immeasurable.

Susan Luder has been a prosecutor at the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for over 19 years. During this time, she was initially assigned to a Trial Bureau where she prosecuted defendants indicted for a variety of crimes, then transferred to the Charging Bureau where she honed her skills in charging felony cases and in presenting investigations to the grand jury. In January 2001, Ms. Luder was assigned to the Special Crimes Bureau as the AATA grant attorney providing services to the officers on the Task Force, persons involved with AATA programs, and agencies involved with the Bait Vehicle Program. In December 2006, she moved to the Gang/Repeat Offender Program Bureau and served as the Assistant Bureau Chief in ROP for four years and handled a number of dangerous felony cases. In February 2012, she joined the Appeals Bureau arguing her first case in the Court of Appeals after six months in the bureau. In 2013, Ms. Luder volunteered to argue another attorney’s case in the Arizona Supreme Court.

Lynn Potts started her career in 1985 as a Rule 28(e) intern in the Tucson City Prosecutor’s Office. She was a Deputy County Assistant for Pinal County before being hired as an assistant prosecutor with the Mesa Prosecutor’s Office, where she has worked for 28 years. During her career, Ms. Potts helped streamline existing processes, supervised law school interns and prosecutors, taught police, developed manuals, created diversion programs and wrote grant proposals. Most importantly, Ms. Pott’s career focused on domestic violence and victims’ rights. She created a Victims’ Rights Advocate Program, prepared a DV office manual, developed a newsletter on DV issues, and presented at DV workshops across the state. She was a member of numerous local, county and statewide organizations aimed at enhancing the prosecution of domestic violence cases and protecting victims’ rights. Ms. Pott's efforts as a public prosecutor have contributed significantly to the safety and protection of Arizona’s crime victims.

Laura Reckart began her career in prosecution in June 1989 at the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. Early in her career she established herself as a tenacious prosecutor with an unparalleled work ethic, and by 1991 she was assigned to the Sex Crimes Bureau where she prosecuted defendants who did unspeakable things to the most vulnerable victims. Between 1989 and 1999, Ms. Reckart served the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office in a variety of different assignments, including Trial Bureau A, Sex Crimes, the Juvenile Division, Gang/ROP, and Homicide. In 2000, she became an Assistant Attorney General. Between 2000 and 2006, Ms. Reckart served the Attorney General as a drug crimes prosecutor, the Director of Victim Services, and a gang prosecutor. In 2006, she returned to MCAO, where she has served as a Homicide/Capital Litigation Attorney since 2007. For 25 years, Ms. Reckart has focused on bringing justice to the victims of the most serious crimes imaginable.

Ms. Wortman began her prosecution career at the Gila County Attorney’s Office in 1990, shortly after graduation from law school. In 2002, she was named the Chief Deputy of the Gila County Attorney’s Office. She served as a member of the Juvenile Law Section of the State Bar, on the executive council of the State Bar’s Public Lawyer’s Section, and served as a member of the Chief Deputies Working Group and the Juvenile Justice Working Group. In 2013, Patti joined the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office, working out of its Verde Valley Office. She took numerous cases to trial and quickly developed a reputation as a determined, but fair, litigator. In 2014, Ms. Wortman became the supervisor of the Verde Valley office and also supervises the juvenile prosecution team. Her experience and skill have greatly benefitted the citizens of Gila and Yavapai Counties, as well as Arizona.

David Berkman joined the Pima County Attorney’s Office in 1974. He has prosecuted hundreds of cases and was the head of both the Major Offenders Program and the Narcotics Unit when he left in 1983 to pursue a career in civil practice. He returned to PCAO in May 2000 as a civil litigator and was later appointed Chief Criminal Deputy. David Berkman distinguished himself working tirelessly to advance the principles of criminal justice by representing the public’s interest with integrity, fairness, and professionalism. Some of his most important work has been with young prosecutors, ensuring they received extensive prosecutorial training – professional and ethical. His highest priority is instilling an understanding of the importance of ethics, integrity, and professionalism in a prosecutor.

Deputy County Attorney Jeff Paupore graduated in 1982 from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan. Mr. Paupore joined the prosecution community in January of 1997 when he was elected as the Dickinson County Prosecuting Attorney, a position he held until 2001 when he and his family moved to Arizona. Mr. Paupore was hired as a prosecutor in the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office in March of 2001 where he has excelled in all areas of practice. Mr. Paupore's history of APAAC award nominations reflects his unswerving excellence. He was nominated in 2004 and 2006 for the Outstanding Felony Prosecutor of the Year, and in 2011 for the David R. White Victim in Excellence Award. The various responsibilities that he has shouldered over his years with the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office reflect his leadership skills, his reliability, his initiative, and his commitment to public safety.

Beth Anderson is a prosecutor with the Pima County Attorney’s Office. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a 4.0 GPA from Arizona State University. She joined the Pima County Attorney’s Office after graduating second in her class from the ASU College of Law in 1992. Ms. Anderson is currently assigned to the Narcotics Unit, where she prosecutes drug traffickers, most of whom are career criminals. She has also served in the Property Crimes and Vehicular Units. During her career as a prosecutor, she has prosecuted over 300 felony jury trials. Ms. Anderson is one of the most experienced and knowledgeable prosecutors in the office. She serves as a major source of inspiration to all those who work with and know her. She has worked tirelessly throughout her career to honorably serve her community and the citizens of Pima County.

Craig Jones joined the Mesa City Prosecutor’s Office in 1986. He has held every position in the office from Student Intern to Interim City Prosecutor and is currently Chief Assistant City Prosecutor. He has accomplished this with professionalism and integrity. In 26 years Mr. Jones tried thousands of cases, supervised tens of thousands of other cases, and filed and supervised hundreds of appeals and special actions. He has mentored more than 150 law students and trained over 30 attorneys. In 2005, one of his appeals was published by the Arizona Court of Appeals. The case, still relevant today, allows prosecutors around Arizona to transfer conflicts openly, ethically, and efficiently. In 1994 APAAC recognized Mr. Jones as the first Misdemeanor Prosecutor of the Year. The nomination for this award stated that Mr. Jones represented the “backbone and heart that keeps our prosecutorial efforts going day in and day out.” This statement continues to be true.

Tony Novitsky is entering his 31st year of prosecution, handling cases on the line to supervising and training attorneys at the municipal and county levels. Over the course of his career, he has conducted from 175 to 200 jury trials and prosecuted cases ranging from parking tickets and barking dogs at the City of Phoenix Prosecutor’s Office to vehicular homicides and other violent crimes at MCAO. In addition, over time he has trained multiple generations of prosecutors helping instruct at APAAC conferences, served on Supreme Court Committees (eg. Serving on The Rule 15 Rewrite Committee from 2000 to 2002, actually drafting the committee comment to Rule 15.1 as it currently appears), instructing at police and fire academies, appearing as a prosecutor guest on radio talk shows, and assisting with the creation of an anti-drinking and driving film called Crossing Deadly Lanes (shown to students in middle schools for many years).

Joel Ruechel is one of those dedicated few who have devoted their life to protecting our communities and preserving our quality of life. Mr. Ruechel has become an institution in the halls of the Navajo County Court House. He is respected by the bench, revered by his co-workers and feared by the defense bar. He has attained this lofty status because he conducts his professional and personal life the right way - with dedication, commitment and devotion. A number of the young prosecutors in the office have nicknamed Mr. Ruechel “the Great Oracle” because he seems to know everything. Whenever any prosecutor has an issue they are wrestling with or a trial coming up they make their way to his office. No matter how busy he is, he never hesitates to drop what he is doing to spend as much time as needed to work through the issues, whether they be procedural, evidentiary or ethical.

Terry Jennings has served as a prosecutor with MCAO for 34 years. He primarily specialized in sex crimes cases and was a key contributor to the development of MCAO current sex crimes specialization and protocols. He prosecuted the first priest sex abuse case in Maricopa County. He was also a prosecutor in the prosecution of Father Dale Fushek another high profile sex abuse case involving a priest. In addition to his work in sex crimes, Mr. Jennings has also supervised other special prosecution areas in the office including Vehicular Crimes, Gangs, Drug Enforcement and Family Violence. In the community he helped to create the Center Against Family Violence in Mesa and to develop their protocols. In recognition of his 34 years of service, he is a deserving recipient of APAAC's Lifetime Achievement Award.

Bill Moore has dedicated almost 40 years to public service. Mr. Moore began his career as a staff legal advisor to the Arizona State Senate in 1973, moving to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office in 1979. Mr. Moore has spent productive time in nearly every bureau of the Office and handled virtually every type of criminal case prior to becoming a Bureau Chief in the Trial Division. Highlights of Mr. Moore's trial experiences include a conviction of serial rapist, Michael Johnson, known as the "Eastside rapist" who was eventually sentenced to over one hundred years in prison. Mr. Moore also convicted a defendant known as "Gentle Ben" who used a tomahawk to kill a patron in a bar fight. Mr. Moore's most important and lasting legacy will be the many outstanding prosecutors that he supervised, mentored and trained, that continue to serve with distinction and who will mentor and train others into the future.