Voter Education Questionnaire
Maricopa County Attorney Candidates

In the last year:

  • Arizona passed a collection of New Jim Crow laws which increased mandatory minimum sentencing and created new crimes. One of those new "crimes" is filming police within eight (8) feet of where law enforcement activity is occurring.
  • ABC15 reported that more than 1,170 law enforcement officials are now on "Brady Lists" in Maricopa County. (Prosecutors use Brady Lists to track cops with integrity issues.)
  • A partisan Supreme Court placed millions of women in health and legal jeopardy when they criminalized women accessing reproductive health.

Who we elect this November to lead the Maricopa County Attorney's Office has never been more important. On September 14, 2022, we sent the Maricopa County Attorney candidates for 2022 a questionnaire about these topics. We will update this page after we receive their responses.

Julie Gunnigle
Rachel Mitchell

Criminalization of Filming Police

Arizona recently passed HB2319, a law which criminalizes recording police activity within eight (8) feet of “where law enforcement activity is occurring.”
  • Will your office prosecute people accused of violating this “crime”?
  • If yes, how will you determine the accuracy of the officer’s depth perception; and, how will you define “law enforcement activity”?
Julie GunnigleProsecuting those who film police is not in the interest of justice, and thankfully the courts have an injunction against HB2319 because it is unconstitutional..
Rachel MitchellAs of October 7, 2022, the candidate has not responded to this question.

Prosecuting Children

The law recognizes that minors “lack the capacity to make a legal contract” (NOLO); yet, until a few months ago, police could ask children to waive their right to an attorney before their parents even knew their child was arrested (Arizona Attorney General).
  • For cases already pending, would you commit to not using testimony provided by children who waived their rights without their parents’ consent?
Julie GunnigleYes, I will commit to not using this testimony.
Rachel MitchellAs of October 7, 2022, the candidate has not responded to this question.

Cops with Known Integrity Issues

“Brady Lists” are “used by prosecutors to track officers with a history of dishonesty, criminal activity, and other integrity concerns” (ABC15). In May 2022, ABC15 shared a database containing more than 1,170 law enforcement officials in Maricopa County who are now on "Brady Lists."
  • Will your office set up a Conviction Integrity Unit to investigate questionable cases, possible wrongful convictions, excessive sentences, and rectify questionable prosecutorial decisions?
Julie GunnigleOne of our first priorities is a functional Conviction Integrity Unit that is transparent, community involved, and forward facing. When done well, a Conviction Integrity Unit fulfills the important role of rectifying harms caused by this office. Making sure the past corrupt practices of this office comes to an end can only be carried out if this office is led with integrity.
Rachel MitchellAs of October 7, 2022, the candidate has not responded to this question.
  • Will your office commit to not using testimony or evidence involving officers on the Brady List?
Julie GunnigleYes, I will commit to prompt additions to a forward-facing Brady list and no call list. Officers with integrity issues have no business in uniform let alone testifying to the courts.
Rachel MitchellAs of October 7, 2022, the candidate has not responded to this question.

New Jim Crow

Black and Brown communities have experienced disproportionate harm from New Jim Crow laws, and county attorneys played a crucial role in executing those injustices.
  • In your personal and professional life, what have you done to alleviate these injustices?
Julie GunnigleAs a prosecutor, I was part of a system that perpetuated these injustices. I take full responsibility for the harm I caused, and it took me a long time and ton of personal reflection to realize my role in upholding systematically racist institutions. Over the last few years, I have been blessed with having so many conversations and friendships with directly impacted people that have changed my perspective about what justice really means. It is because of these relationships that I have worked both as the Political Director for Arizona NORML, helping people purge their records of previous marijuana convictions, and as the Legal Director for the Arizona Poor People’s Campaign, helping tenants fight exploitative landlords. I am in this fight because I now understand the role that each individual prosecutor plays in upholding the system and the systemic changes that must happen to make equal justice a reality.
Rachel MitchellAs of October 7, 2022, the candidate has not responded to this question.
  • As county attorney, how would you address these systemic issues?
Julie Gunnigle

As county attorney, I am committed to getting to the root causes of the issues that the system uses to defend mass incarceration. When we treat gun violence, addiction, and mental health as the public health crisis they are, rather than an excuse to incarcerate, we start to get at these systemic issues. This office can end the school to prison pipeline in our county by investing in the traditionally under-resourced juvenile justice courts and making juvenile rehabilitation a priority. I will create an independent unit to handle police use of force cases, free from the inherent conflicts of the interest between line prosecutors and police to hold law enforcement accountable to the community.

As county attorney, I will also engage in radical data transparency, by publishing the disaggregated charging, plea bargain, and sentencing information from this office so that the public can see that I am moving the office away from the disproportionate policing and prosecution of Black and Brown communities.

Rachel MitchellAs of October 7, 2022, the candidate has not responded to this question.

Women’s Reproductive Health

  • Will your office prosecute abortion providers or patients seeking abortions?
Julie GunnigleNot Now, Not EVER!
Rachel MitchellAs of October 7, 2022, the candidate has not responded to this question.

Symbiotic Relationship with Law Enforcement

Prosecutors are dependent upon law enforcement to provide evidence and testimony necessary to win their cases. County attorneys are also responsible for prosecuting those same police officers of criminal misconduct.
  • How will your office handle this conflict of interest?
Julie GunnigleThis is the very reason why we continue to speak about the importance of the independent aspect of this office. We have to hold police accountable and that can only be done if there is a separate unit that investigates this misconduct and harm. Also, if there is an actual conflict of interest relating to a specific officer or incident then we have a duty to recuse ourselves from that case.
Rachel MitchellAs of October 7, 2022, the candidate has not responded to this question.