Takes another leave from job
This September 10, 2021 statement from Maricopa County Attorney Allister Adel leaves unanswered more questions than it answers. Her career has been so iffy, it’s uncertain how long the statement will remain available.
A similar message was sent to the staff at the County Attorney’s office:
Dear MCAO Family,
The work we do at this office is hard and I am not immune to its effects. Below is a statement that will be released to the press today but I wanted to personally share the message about my recent struggles. Seeking professional help to deal with stress and anxiety is nothing to be ashamed of. Those who are suffering in silence should be able to ask for help. As a society, we must talk about it.
As County Attorney, I have focused this office on implementing programs and policies to assist those in the criminal justice system suffering from substance abuse disorder. I have revised plea policies to reflect a treatment-first approach. I have championed a home detention program for individuals facing misdemeanor DUIs. We have created and implemented a robust diversion program grounded in evidence-based treatment and eliminated financial barriers previously associated with this opportunity.
Stress and anxiety do not discriminate based on age, gender, race, or socioeconomic status. I am fortunate to have access to resources and a supportive network of friends and family to help me address my issues. I encourage those in this office who may be struggling with similar issues to reach out to supervisors or take advantage of the resources afforded to us as county employees. You are not alone.
Thank you for your patience as I navigate this path.
Best,
Allister Adel
Maricopa County Attorney
In a much ballyhooed election as the county’s first female county attorney, Adel was originally appointed to the position Oct. 3, 2019 by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors when then-current County Attorney Bill Montgomery was named to the newly expanded AZ Supreme Court by Gov. Doug Ducey in a head scratching, uncalled-for action. Ducey put two new justices in place, neither of whom have applicable trial court experience, since one came from a libertarian “think tank” and the other from an elected executive position.
Allister Adel, the mother of two young sons, generated sympathy on election night Nov. 3, 2020 when she was hospitalized for a “brain bleed” said to be caused by a fall. Initially she said she had a blood clotting disorder, which was false, although alcohol does thin the blood. Excessive amounts thin it even more. Her duplicity was perpetrated by the leftwing Arizona Republic which had disdain for what it referred to as, “Bill Montgomery’s hard-line administration.”
The prosecutor’s office ran without its newly elected administrator as she recovered. No reason for the fall was given. Now we have a more accurate idea of what caused her instability. Falling off a step stool doesn’t require residential treatment.
Adel, who campaigned as a conservative rightly caught flak for dismissing charges against violent anti-police rioters, who broke windows and looted Scottsdale Fashion Mall, threw cement blocks at officers, damaged police vehicles, set fires in the showroom of the adjacent Mercedes dealership and then attempted to destroy the Phoenix Police Department and downtown businesses. The thugs used the death of repeatedly incarcerated George Floyd 1700 miles away in Minneapolis, to assault Phoenix police, and faced numerous charges including aggravated assault on officers, criminal damage, unlawful assembly, rioting, resisting arrest and obstructing a roadway.
Protests against the police have not been isolated incidents and nationally efforts to defund the police have gained momentum, resulting in officers resigning and crime rates rising. Yet these are the people Maricopa County Attorney Adel regards as worthy of having their charges dropped. Violent rioters do not respond to weakness. It emboldens them. Allister Adel’s focus was not on prosecution of criminals, but on “diversity and inclusion.” SRAZ ended that post with these words: “She should not have been identified by her plumbing, but by her leftward bent.”
Seeing Red AZ 
Right off the bat I noticed Allister Adel has “issues” not problems. That sounds like she’s not actually addressing them. She’s been away or dealing with “issues” more than she’s been on the job since she fell on election night.
Knowing what we now know, it sounds like that election night fall was the result of too much celebratory imbibing. I pity her children who have inherited her gene pool. Her husband will now become her warden and bear the brunt of her resentment. Alcoholism is a family nightmare.
Allister Adel should not return to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. She’s obviously not up to the job. This is one of the nations largest prosecutor’s offices and not a revolving door for an obviously troubled woman who is not up to the job. There is an able chief deputy who can assume the lead position.
You’re right! Adel needs to resign allowing chief deputy Ken Vick to take over to ensure leadership in that very important office.
Elected under false pretenses, Adel should be removed from office. She has not and cannot do the job.
Jack Sellers and Bill Gates are fans of course because she is a RINO. Adel had McCain people running her campaign which is no surprise considering she loves pandering to leftists.
I’m a compassionate person.
I am not a fool.
Allister Adel needs to go. Permanently. Now.
She has twice proven herself incapable of handling the important duties she is charged with.
I found this online in a news article about Adel:
“Adel previously provided legal consulting services for nonprofits and small businesses. Adel also has worked for the Maricopa County Bar Association, Arizona Department of Child Safety and Arizona Department of Transportation.” As an afterthought this was added, making it appear she wasn’t at the office she recently ran to lead very long: “She formerly worked in the County Attorney’s Office as a deputy county attorney. “
Most of her previous positions did not entail courtroom trials. She has worked in positions that did not require heavyweight legal expertise.
How did she get appointed by the Board of Supervisors and then have the nerve to run for Maricopa County Attorney??? We need a much better vetting system!
As county attorney, Bill Montgomery was doing the job he was elected to do. Allister Adel views herself as a social worker. Her transition team, with many outsiders was more attuned to diversity than prosecution.
Allister Adel as been away from the office more than she’s been doing the job she was elected to do. If she refuses to resign, what process is there, short of impeachment, to permanently get rid of her before the next election? As a county elected official, she’s still receiving a paycheck and benefits including health insurance, which she won’t want to relinquish. This could be a bigger disaster than we realize.
Allister Adel is an alcoholic who is not only the Maricopa County Attorney, she is also the mother of two young children. She needs to resign and take care of herself and be the wife and mother she’s been unable to be. Everyone is getting short-changed. but in this case her family should be her priority. There are people within the CA’s office who could do a better job than she’s doing. At least they’d show up…and be sober.