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 / Modified sep 26, 2019 11:32 a.m.

Independent counsel to investigate complaint against newest Arizona Supreme Court justice

The ethics complaint was filed a day before Gov. Doug Ducey appointed Bill Montgomery to the state's high court.
by Associated Press

bill montgomery 2017 Then-Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery in Phoenix, 2017.
Gage Skidmore/Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)

PHOENIX — The Arizona Supreme Court is appointing an independent Bar counsel to investigate an ethics complaint against former Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery.

The complaint was filed with the State Bar of Arizona on Sept. 3, a day before Gov. Doug Ducey appointed Montgomery to the state Supreme Court.

Attorneys for convicted murderer Jodi Arias accuse Montgomery of covering up misconduct by county prosecutor Juan Martinez.

The Arizona Republic reports lawyer Karen Clark alleges in the complaint that Montgomery failed to supervise Martinez and blocked public records from being released.

According to the court order filed Wednesday, the chief Bar counsel requested the complaint against Montgomery be assigned to an independent Bar counsel to avoid a conflict of interest.

Montgomery was Ducey's fifth appointment to the seven-justice court.

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