In a shocking turn of events, the family of former Maricopa County Attorney Allister Adel, who resigned under pressure March 21, has announced her death from unspecified “health complications.” She was a wife and mother of two young sons.
Adel was heralded as the first woman to lead the nation’s third largest prosecutor’s office, when she was selected by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, prior to her election. Not disclosed were the myriad personal problems that she repeatedly sought treatment for on an ongoing basis, frequently leaving the office for extended periods of time. When she was there, her focus was often diverted from prosecution of criminals to diversity and inclusion.
On April 20, 2022 the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors announced the appointment of eminently well-qualified Rachel Mitchell, an office veteran, Mitchell who was the chief deputy and then served as interim Maricopa County Attorney when then-county Attorney Bill Montgomery was appointed to the Arizona Supreme Court.
Allister Adel’s untimely death is a dreadful tragedy. It also stands as a memorial to political correctness gone awry.