PHOENIX- On Wednesday January 4th , Bill Montgomery will return as one of the longest serving elected county officials, starting his third term as County Attorney. He will be sworn in by newly appointed Arizona Supreme Court Judge Andrew Gould at a County ceremony at 9:30am inside the Board of Supervisor’s Auditorium.
Montgomery was first elected Maricopa County Attorney in a Special Election in 2010 and re-elected in 2012 and 2016 on a pledge to fight crime, honor victims’ rights, and protect and strengthen our community. As a West Point Graduate, decorated Gulf War Veteran, former Deputy County Attorney and a professional prosecutor, he has dedicated his personal and professional life to serving others.
Montgomery earned his J.D. from ASU’s College of Law, graduating Magna Cum Laude and receiving the Order of the Coif. As a prosecutor with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, he quickly gained a reputation as a tough but fair prosecutor and served as the Bureau Chief of the Auto Theft Bureau before being elected as County Attorney.
During his six years serving as County Attorney, Montgomery has remained committed to vigorously prosecuting crimes and holding criminals accountable. He believes in the responsible application of Arizona’s tough sentencing laws to ensure violent and repeat criminals are kept away from our citizens and communities while seeking innovative strategies to deal with issues such as substance abuse and mental health. He is committed to partnering with law enforcement, along with business and civic leaders, to protect and strengthen communities, and has been an outspoken advocate for protecting children.
Andrew W. Gould, Judge on the Arizona Court of Appeals, Division One, received his J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law in 1990. He began his legal career in Phoenix, Arizona, practicing in the field of civil litigation. In 1994, he became a Deputy County Attorney, prosecuting major criminal cases for Yuma and Maricopa Counties. He served as Chief Civil Deputy for the Yuma County Attorney’s Office from 1999-2001.
In 2001, he was appointed as Judge of the Superior Court in Yuma County where he served as Associate Presiding Judge until being named Presiding Judge in 2006. Judge Gould was appointed by Governor Jan Brewer to the Arizona Court of Appeals, Division One in November 2011. Judge Gould was recently appointed to the Arizona Supreme Court by Governor Doug Ducey, and will begin serving his term January 6, 2017.