Somebody is challenging petitions filed by some candidate and somebody needed a waiver from the county to hire a lawyer to deal with those challenges in some way. That’s about all we could glean from the description of an April 2 executive session, which read: “Mesch, Clark & Rothschild, P.C.'s request for a Conflict of Interest Waiver to represent candidates in petition challenges for 2024.” (April 16) (Tucson Agenda)

This is an intriguing one. The County Attorney’s Office wants an executive session to discuss whether to make public a March 13 memo written by Deputy County Attorney Sean Holguin. It has to do with Sheriff Chris Nanos being able to adopt a deflection program. There aren’t any other details in the agenda item, but deflection programs are meant to help people avoid ending up in jail for issues like substance abuse that could be better dealt with by a social service organization. Deflection programs have been one of Nanos’ priorities since his 2020 election. (Tucson Agenda) (May 6)

Case closed: Pima County Attorney Laura Conover has entered into a “diversion” agreement with the State Bar in response to a former chief deputy’s allegations of misconduct, the Tucson Sentinel’s Dylan Smith reports. David Berkman, the former PCAO attorney who filed the complaint, says that Conover’s statement that the bar found no misconduct in her behavior is misleading and compared the agreement to a plea agreement. Conover refused the Sentinel’s request for the document outlining the deal with the state’s regulatory body for lawyers without citing any legal basis.

"I have agreed with the State Bar that I will seek advice from experts about communication and perception and will take a seminar. The agreement I have made with the State Bar is not discipline against me as a lawyer," Conover said in her press release. (March 18)

Details emerging: After initially refusing to release it, County Attorney Laura Conover released a copy of the diversion agreement she signed with the State Bar, the Tucson Sentinel’s Dylan Smith reports. The agreement doesn’t provide specifics, but it does deal with conflict of interest, diligence issues and “conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice.” It came after former prosecutor David Berkman filed a complaint against Conover. Under the agreement, Conover has to complete a continuing legal education program and meet with the bar counsel to discuss rules of professional conduct. She says she has “not been found guilty of any ethical transgressions, and I have not admitted to any.” Berkman told the Sentinel “she cut a deal to avoid facing significant complaints of misconduct.” As for the delay in releasing a copy of the agreement, Conover said she did so after seeking “clear guidance that it could be properly released to the public.” (March 19)

(July 28, 2023) A years-long legal battle between the county’s top prosecutor and the office’s former chief criminal deputy shows no signs of nearing an end, despite both sides appearing in court Thursday to make their case. At the center of the dispute are ****records that the ex-chief, David Berkman, says could potentially expose an ethical violation by Pima County Attorney Laura Conover. (Tucson Agenda)