Internal emails obtained by Fox News Digital reveal that the office of Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes repeatedly sought recruiting assistance from two left-wing legal organizations that had previously sued the state’s corrections department. The correspondence shows that Chief Deputy Attorney General Daniel Barr requested recommendations for attorneys and general counsel candidates from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Berkeley-based Prison Law Office (PLO).
The disclosures come as Mayes, who identifies as a moderate, prepares for a November general election challenge from Republican state Senator Warren Petersen. Mayes won her initial election in 2022 by a margin of 280 votes. While Mayes has publicly fought against lawsuits brought by these groups on other issues, her deputy’s interactions with them highlight a complex relationship between the Attorney General’s office and progressive legal advocates regarding prison administration.
What the Right Is Saying
Mayes’ re-election campaign manager, Delaney Corcoran, responded to the email disclosures by emphasizing that the ACLU has frequently sued Mayes over policy disagreements. Corcoran stated, "Maybe FOX News should start with the facts: the ACLU has repeatedly sued Kris Mayes over issues where they disagreed with her."
Corcoran highlighted Mayes’ record on law enforcement funding and cartel task forces, noting that the Attorney General’s office has seized 27 million fentanyl pills, a figure the campaign describes as the highest in state history. The campaign argues that Mayes "stands shoulder to shoulder with Arizona sheriffs and police," contrasting this record with the progressive priorities of the ACLU and PLO.
Mayes herself has defended Arizona against ACLU challenges to laws allowing police to arrest individuals entering the country illegally between ports of entry. Although she later settled a lawsuit regarding a police filming restriction, agreeing to prohibit the law, her office’s historical opposition to these groups’ litigation strategies remains a key point of contention for her conservative critics.
What the Left Is Saying
The ACLU and the Prison Law Office represent significant voices in the progressive legal landscape, particularly regarding criminal justice reform. The ACLU has advocated for reducing jail and prison populations by 50% through measures such as decriminalization, bail reform, and shorter sentences. The Prison Law Office focuses on litigation related to prison conditions, medical care, disability rights, and solitary confinement, aiming to reduce incarceration overall.
David Fathi, director of the ACLU National Prison Project, responded to Barr’s requests in May 2023 by promising to "redouble" efforts to find suitable candidates. Fathi has previously stated that society "will never solve drug problems with police and prisons," aligning with the organization’s broader goal of using incarceration only as a last resort.
Corene Kendrick, deputy director of the National Prison Project, offered a candidate who was actively suing the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR) in civil rights damages cases. This interaction suggests that the legal philosophies of the hiring pool and the state’s corrections agency remain in tension, even as the state seeks legal representation.
What the Numbers Show
The internal emails are dated between February and May 2023. In February 2023, Barr wrote to ACLU and PLO representatives seeking attorneys to handle ADCRR work in-house, stating, "I am looking to bring as much ADCRR work back in-house as possible in the Arizona AG’s Office." By April 2023, Barr was seeking candidates specifically for the ADCRR general counsel position.
On May 11, 2023, Barr noted, "Still no takers for the ADCRR general counsel job," indicating the difficulty in filling the role. The ACLU’s National Prison Project has a stated goal of substantially reducing the incarcerated population. The PLO’s mission includes working to reduce incarceration while litigating issues on prison conditions and medical care.
Mayes’ 2022 election victory margin was 280 votes, one of the narrowest in Arizona history. Her campaign cites the seizure of 27 million fentanyl pills as a key metric of her office’s enforcement activity. The ADCRR is the agency responsible for the state’s corrections, rehabilitation, and reentry services, which has been subject to federal litigation regarding constitutional adequacy of prison conditions.
The Bottom Line
The release of these emails underscores the intricate dynamics between state legal offices and advocacy groups that often serve as both adversaries and potential sources of legal talent. While Chief Deputy Barr sought to recruit attorneys from organizations with opposing policy views on incarceration, the political implications for Mayes’ re-election bid remain significant as she faces a Republican challenger.
Voters will likely weigh these interactions against Mayes’ public record of law enforcement achievements and her office’s history of litigation against progressive groups. The November election will determine whether Arizona voters view these hiring efforts as pragmatic staffing decisions or as evidence of ideological alignment with left-wing legal organizations.