The House Ad Hoc Committee on Executive Oversight heard from retired Arizona Supreme Court Justice Andrew Gould at its first public meeting on Thursday.
Gould, a distinguished former prosecutor, was invited to appear before the Committee to outline the constitutional and statutory responsibilities of the Arizona Attorney General, including the duty to defend state laws. Justice Gould also explained that, unlike other states where Attorney Generals have common law authority, Arizona’s Attorney General’s authority is limited by statute.
Committee Chairwoman Jacqueline Parker affirmed the Committee’s commitment to uphold the highest standards of legislative oversight and professionalism.
In contrast, say Republicans, Committee Democrats put on a “disappointing display of partisanship by refusing to attend the meeting and to constructively engage.”
Additionally, the committee reviewed outstanding public records requests it has directed at Attorney General Mayes, addressing two serious allegations. The first records request concerns the legal proceedings in State v. Cochise County—a lawsuit General Mayes lost last year. Chairwoman Parker expressed alarm at the judge’s comments during a hearing that criticized General Mayes for using her court filings to launch an irrelevant, partisan attack on elected county officials. The second records request addresses the Attorney General’s recent unfounded attacks on the agricultural industry, her threats to file a public nuisance lawsuit against Arizona’s farmers, and her use of public town hall events and resources to make campaign speeches.
AG. Mayes spent energy, time, and money for her press conference on our simple public records requests. She probably could have fulfilled one of them by now. To add insult, she has very little jurisdiction on water. Looks more like a campaign speech to me. https://t.co/dymA3AEcRX
— Rep. John Gillette AZ House LD30 (@AzRepGillette) April 5, 2024
“We have given General Mayes a standing invitation to speak to the Committee,” said CEO Chairwoman Parker. “I’m puzzled she decided, instead, to hold a press conference at the Capitol while we were voting on bills and before the Committee even convened to hear from retired Justice Gould about basic statutory functions of the Attorney General’s Office. General Mayes should apologize to Mr. Gould for her unwarranted, disparaging comments. He made perfectly clear at the hearing that the Committee solicited his testimony as a legal expert and refrained from opining on any of the questionable actions General Mayes has taken while in office. Mr. Gould spent his entire career serving the people of Arizona as a prosecutor and jurist on the State Supreme Court. Arizonans deserve more from their chief legal officer.”