Tuesday, July 14, 2020

BREAKING: Arizona Supreme Court Reinstates Ethics Charges Against Juan Martinez, Takes Strong Stand Against Sexual Harassment (READ DECISION)

The Arizona Supreme Court took a strong stand against sexual harassment committed by attorneys today, reinstating ethics charges against well-known prosecutor Juan Martinez.

The two claims that Martinez "had sexually harassed multiple female law clerks at the (Maricopa) County Attorney's Office over several years" had been thrown out. The Justices unanimously reinstated the allegations, deciding that Presiding Disciplinary Judge William O'Neil's had been "arbitrary and capricious or an abuse of discretion."

Noting that the Ethics Rules for attorneys require that they "avoid engaging in unprofessional conduct", the Court flatly stated:

"The prohibitions against "unprofessional conduct"...includes substantial and repeated sexual harassment of staff or subordinates. Our decision here is consistent with our prior cases stating that sexual harassment by lawyers in other professional contexts is unethical. (Citing past decisions where a judge had sexually harassed attorneys appearing before him and where an attorney had sexually harassed a client.)"
Martinez had prosecuted many high-profile cases for the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, most notably the Jodi Arias case. Justice Bill Montgomery recused himself from this case because his previous elected position was Maricopa County Attorney.



"AZ Law" includes articles, commentaries and updates about opinions from the Arizona Supreme Court, U.S. Supreme Court, as well as trial and appellate courts, etc.

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