Failing future — and current — victims means Maricopa County Attorney Adel should resign

As we try to stop Russia from prosecuting their unlawful war against Ukraine — and hold Russian President Vladimir Putin accountable for war crimes — let’s also talk about prosecuting criminals in Arizona and holding those who fail to prosecute them accountable.

Rick Romley, who spent 16 years as Maricopa County’s top prosecutor, told KTAR 92.3 FM’s Mike Broomhead Show on Tuesday that besides the almost 200 misdemeanor cases that had to be dropped because they weren’t filed on in time under County Attorney Allister Adel (something we just learned about), Romley’s hearing from inside his former agency that there’s a possibly worse backlog of felony cases.

“I’m hearing that those cases are mounting into, potentially, thousands that haven’t been filed in a timely manner,” he told Mike.  

Romley says fellow Republican Adel — whom he supported in her campaign to be elected Maricopa County Attorney — needs to walk away from her job of overseeing the third-largest prosecutor’s office in the country.

Being disappointed in the job that Adel is doing isn’t new, however. Five of her division chiefs called for her to step down in January because they didn’t think she was staying sober after a summer stay in rehab. 

Republican Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey stopped short of calling for Adel’s resignation when he commented on the missed misdemeanor cases on Tuesday, but he thinks the buck should still stop with her.

“I think leaders should take accountability for their actions and not blame people on their team,” he said. “My concern is really for the victims of these crimes.”

Like Ducey, I feel bad for the victims who will get no justice because the crimes against them will go unpunished. 

As a fellow recovering alcoholic, I also feel bad for Adel.

But I feel worse for the future victims of criminals who may go on to commit more and even worse crimes because they weren’t taught a lesson by Adel’s office. 

So I mostly feel like it’s time, finally, for you to step down, Allister. 

Follow @JimSharpe