Judge throws out appeal by ex-Thomas aide
Jun 19, 2012, 4:51 PM
PHOENIX – A judge dismissed an appeal of a decision that suspends a former
Maricopa County prosecutor’s law license for her role in an unsuccessful
racketeering lawsuit against county officials on behalf of then-County Attorney
Andrew Thomas.
The dismissal of Rachel Alexander’s appeal came as she was asking for more time
to file her opening appellate brief.
Presiding Disciplinary Judge William O’Neil says in his dismissal order that
Alexander filed the request at or shortly after a June 6 deadline and that her
appeal is now considered abandoned.
Her six-month suspension takes effect on July 23.
The disciplinary panel that ruled against Alexander also disbarred Thomas and
another of his former prosecutors after finding, in part, that they broke
criminal laws in knowingly bringing false bribery charges against a judge.