Former Maricopa County prosecutor April Sponsel has lost her bid to overturn a two-year suspension after the Arizona Supreme Court ruled against her for filing gang charges against protesters without proper evidence review.
Key Takeaways
- Arizona Supreme Court upheld a two-year suspension for former prosecutor April Sponsel for ethical violations related to 2020 protest cases
- Sponsel “knowingly” violated her duty by charging protesters with gang-related offenses without adequately reviewing evidence
- The misconduct led to the dismissal of over 40 felony cases and caused significant harm to defendants
- Sponsel was fired by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office in 2022 following an investigation
- The disciplinary action stemmed from a 2021 investigation into the prosecutor’s handling of cases following George Floyd protests
Court Affirms Professional Misconduct Finding
The Arizona Supreme Court delivered a definitive blow to former prosecutor April Sponsel’s legal career by upholding her two-year suspension for professional misconduct. The high court concluded that Sponsel “knowingly” violated her ethical duty to act in good faith when handling cases against protesters in 2020. The ruling affirms the disciplinary panel’s findings that Sponsel brought charges against demonstrators without adequately reviewing evidence and failed to reassess charges as litigation progressed, causing significant injury to defendants who were wrongfully accused.
Sponsel served as the lead prosecutor in cases against individuals arrested during Phoenix protests following the deaths of George Floyd and Dion Johnson. Despite having access to over 100 hours of police body camera footage and 250 pages of police reports, court records indicate Sponsel pushed forward with gang-related charges after minimal evidence review. The seriousness of these charges significantly increased potential penalties for the accused while lacking proper evidentiary support.
Protest Cases Collapse Under Scrutiny
The prosecutor’s misconduct came to light following ABC15’s “Politically Charged” investigation in February 2021, which examined how law enforcement and prosecutors handled protest cases. Records show Sponsel worked with Phoenix police to bring charges against 15 demonstrators in October 2020, claiming they were acting as a criminal street gang. These allegations quickly fell apart under scrutiny, leading the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office to reverse course and dismiss over 40 felony cases against protesters.
The fallout from the improper prosecutions was substantial. Sponsel was placed on administrative leave in March 2022 and subsequently fired by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office in June of that year. Despite the mounting evidence against her, Sponsel continued to deny any wrongdoing throughout her disciplinary proceedings, maintaining that her actions were appropriate based on the information available to her at the time.
HEADLINE: AZ Supreme Court releases decision upholding protest prosecutor’s suspension
Bottom line: Don’t collude with police to invent a gang to falsely charge protesters as members. https://t.co/9hcHl3kM26
— Dave Biscobing (@DaveBiscobing15) April 12, 2025
Ethical Violations and Disciplinary Action
Following Sponsel’s termination, the State Bar of Arizona filed formal ethical charges against her, culminating in a two-year suspension imposed by a disciplinary panel in late 2023. This suspension prevents Sponsel from practicing law in Arizona until late 2025. The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold this suspension represents the final step in the disciplinary process, finding that the punishment fit the ethical breaches she committed.
Court documents reveal that the justices were particularly troubled by Sponsel’s failure to fulfill her prosecutorial responsibilities. As a representative of the state in criminal proceedings, prosecutors have heightened ethical obligations to ensure justice is served fairly. The Arizona Supreme Court determined that Sponsel fell well short of these standards by rushing to judgment and failing to properly evaluate evidence before bringing serious charges with life-altering consequences for the defendants.
The court’s ruling serves as a reminder of the significant power prosecutors wield in the criminal justice system and the serious consequences when that power is misused. For the protesters who faced unwarranted gang charges, the vindication comes after years of legal uncertainty, though the suspension does little to compensate for the disruption to their lives and the resources expended on their defense.
Sources:
- AZ Supreme Court releases decision upholding protest prosecutor’s suspension
- Arizona Supreme Court upholds former Valley prosecutor’s 2-year suspension
- Arizona Supreme Court upholds former Valley prosecutor’s 2-year suspension – DNyuz
