Judge: Right to fair trial not denied

Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas’ pursuit of a spate of lawsuits and indictments against county leaders and judges won’t rob any other criminal defendants of their right to a fair trial, a judge ruled Tuesday.

Judge Wallace Hoggatt of Cochise County Superior Court ruled against more than 40 criminal defendants who sought to disqualify the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office from their cases on claims the office had a conflict of interest and appearance of impropriety in representing the state.

Thomas also got indictments against Stapley and County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox, and he filed a criminal complaint against Judge Gary Donahoe.

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