The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors maintained the status quo on Wednesday with the appointment of Rachel Mitchell as County Attorney. Mitchell will fill the vacancy left by Allister Adel, who was forced to resign earlier this spring from the scandal plagued office.
For months, the Supervisors and Mitchell kept mum about the fact that Adel was non-functioning due to substance abuse. Her inability to serve allowed the Supervisors to essentially operate the county attorney’ office themselves.
Mitchell has served the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for the past 30 years, most recently as the head of the Criminal Division.
State law requires the Board to appoint a replacement to serve as County Attorney until the next election.
The County Attorney serves as legal counsel for the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and all County departments.
Mitchell, who will serve in the role through the 2022 General Election. She is one of several candidates running for the position in November. Whoever wins will serve as County Attorney through 2024.