PHOENIX, Ariz. — On Monday morning, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors appointed a person to take over the controversial county’s attorney’s office for the next six months.

The board voted 5-0 to appoint Rachel Mitchell as the interim Maricopa County Attorney.

Mitchell was one of three candidates who applied for the position following the resignation of troubled former county attorney Alister Adele.

The other two nominees were Ani Foster and Gina Godvigear. When all county supervisors at Monday’s meeting commended the passion and qualifications of every candidate they interviewed and chose a permanent replacement for Adele to fill the remainder of her term in the fall special election, voters will vote. He said he would have to make difficult choices… Adele’s term runs until January 1, 2025.

The board of directors three Republican candidates He collected enough signatures to participate in a preliminary vote in August, telling the Republic of Arizona it was obligated to appoint a lawyer from the same party as Adele, a Republican.

Mitchell has worked for the county attorney’s office for 30 years and was one of the high-profile members of the attorney’s office who called on Adele to step down earlier this year. Mitchell also briefly served as county attorney after being appointed to the Arizona Supreme Court until Adele was appointed to replace former Maricopa County’s William Montgomery.

Maricopa County Commissioner Bill Gates said all three candidates were eligible, but felt Mitchell was ready to jump right in and lead the office over the next six months. .

“She has 30 years of experience prosecuting the most heinous crimes in our community,” Gates said.

Gates added that he wants county attorneys to ensure that the law is upheld, that they don’t “throw books” at everyone, that they are compassionate, and that they exercise prosecutorial discretion in an appropriate manner.