State of Arizona v. Hon. marner/darren Goldin

Summary

The court held that a trial court may vicariously disqualify an entire prosecutor's office when actual prosecutorial misconduct creates an appearance of impropriety that threatens fairness and public confidence. The trial court did not abuse its discretion by disqualifying the Tucson office because the misconduct involved undisclosed contacts concerning confidential mitigation information, and the scope of any resulting taint could not be determined. The court vacated the court of appeals' decision and affirmed the trial court's disqualification order.