PHOENIX — Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell and her office defended the decision to use detectives and a confidential FBI database to secretly investigate jurors in a death penalty case.
In written statements to ABC15 and court filings, the office maintained that nothing improper occurred, and that prosecutors “obviously” had every right to do it. Mitchell declined ABC15's request for a former on-camera interview. But she answered ABC15’s questions at a recent press conference (full exchange below).
MCAO claims it doesn't know how often it has used the FBI’s NCIC database to investigate jurors. But a spokesperson said in an email, “We keep no such tracking but are confident that this kind of review of jurors is rare and is done only with good cause appearing.” MCAO does not appear to have clear policies governing the investigation of jurors. But the office said a policy is now under consideration.
FULL INVESTIGATION: Jurors/Investigated
MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY PRESS CONFERENCE
County Attorney Rachel Mitchell declined ABC15's request for an on-camera interview. She answered ABC15’s questions at a press briefing on August 27, 2026.
Watch the full unedited exchange in the video player below.
MCAO'S WRITTEN RESPONSES TO ABC15
ABC15 submitted detailed written questions to MCAO over the course of the station’s reporting. The full email chain is below.
MCAO'S COURT FILINGS
When Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Monica Edelstein ordered MCAO to explain whether its use of the NCIC database to investigate jurors was legal, the office filed a memo and reply in response. The two documents are embedded below.
Filing dated November 18, 2025
Filing dated December 1, 2025
This digital article was produced with the assistance of AI and based on the reporting and interviews conducted by ABC15 Chief Investigator Dave Biscobing (Dave@abc15.com).
