Arizona’s Attorney General Isn’t a Trial Lawyer — It’s a Leadership Job – A Case for Warren Petersen
Guest post by Robert Brickman, former Trial Attorney and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice; former Assistant Arizona Attorney General; former General Counsel, U.S. House of Representatives
Arizona voters are being asked an important question in the upcoming Republican primary:
What kind of Attorney General does our state actually need?
Not just a lawyer. Not just a prosecutor.
But a leader capable of running one of the largest and most powerful legal offices in the state.
After decades inside the Department of Justice, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, and Congress, I can tell you this plainly:
The Attorney General is not Arizona’s chief trial lawyer.
He is Arizona’s chief legal executive.
That distinction matters.
The Attorney General oversees an office of hundreds of attorneys and staff, manages complex, multi-state litigation, sets legal priorities for the entire state, advises government agencies, and makes high-stakes decisions that impact millions of Arizonans.
In my experience, the most effective legal leaders — the ones who actually deliver results — are not those trying cases themselves.
They are the ones directing strategy, managing teams, coordinating across agencies, and making sound legal judgments at scale.
That is exactly why Warren Petersen is the right choice for Arizona Attorney General.
His opponent, Rodney Glassman, emphasizes his years as a prosecutor and practicing attorney. That is honorable service. But courtroom experience alone is not what this job demands.
Arizona doesn’t need another litigator.
It needs a proven executive legal leader.
As President of the Arizona Senate, Petersen has already demonstrated that leadership — guiding complex legal battles, coordinating with attorneys, and defending Arizona law at the highest levels.
When the current Attorney General declined to defend Arizona’s Save Women’s Sports Act, Petersen stepped in to ensure the law was defended. When Arizona’s election integrity laws were challenged, he helped lead the legal effort that reached the U.S. Supreme Court. And when executive overreach threatened the balance of power in state government, Petersen took that fight to court — and won.
These are not isolated cases. They are proof of something far more important:
The ability to lead, manage, and win complex legal battles on behalf of the entire state.
That is the job of the Attorney General.
I have worked under Arizona Attorney Generals, U.S. Attorney Generals, U.S. Attorneys, and congressional General Counsel. None of them spent their days in courtrooms. They led teams, set priorities, and made the decisions that determined success or failure.
That is the level of leadership Arizona needs now.
This race is not about who has logged the most courtroom hours.
It is about who is prepared to lead a statewide legal operation on day one.
Warren Petersen has already been doing that work.
For Arizona voters who want strong, capable, and effective legal leadership — not just a résumé — the choice is clear.
Robert Brickman is a former Trial Attorney and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice, a former Assistant Arizona Attorney General, and former General Counsel for the U.S. House of Representatives Small Business Oversight Subcommittee.
Give it a month and he will devolve into a lowlife like all the rest of them.
"one of the largest and most powerful legal offices in the state"
"One of"? Didn't wanna step on Maricopa's toes?
I only have one question.
Who is supporting his campaign financially?
what a joke. He's supposed to manage a process about which he knows nothing? Might as well put a REALLY GOOD electrician in charge…ya know…because they have a death penalty…
all hail orange GOD / MASTER ……………………………………………huh cultist hey can you tell me 8 thing your ONE and ONLY orange GOD / MASTER did wrong during 1st term , just 8 can you do it???
I can name a few things he did wrong
1. trust fauci
2. trust Sessions
3. trust Pence
4. trust milley
5. trust turtle
6. trust Ryan
7. Trust Barr
8. thought the DUMBocRATs cared about the country
This is also true for Bondi's Replacement…
Sorry but as an AZ voter I support Rodney Glassman. I signed Glassman's candidacy petition and I've financially backed his candidacy. I have no use for Petersen.
I'M SORRY!!!
Rodney certainly has the $$$ behind him. Are you concerned with his previous work with Grijalva and the dems?
Not at all. Rodney Glassman was a Democrat until the day President Trump announced his candidacy. He left the Democratic party that very day. Paul Gosar, who I support, is also a strong supporter of Glassman and heartily endorses the man. I have zero hesitation about supporting Rodney Glassman.
Thing is, Abe Hamadeh lost to Chris Mayes — not because Arizonans thought Mayes was the better candidate, but because Arizona elections were (still) owned, operated and programmable. Has enough been done since then to deliver elections back to voters? If not, the Governor and AG will continue to be DEMs or RINOs and candidacy will continue to be nothing more than window dressing.
Chris Mayes like Hobbs was elected by voter fraud. Mayes didn't win the job honestly and she's been a joke of an AG. She doesn't have the trial experience which is why she consistently loses to the Trump Administration. Which also proves the point that someone with trial experience should be in the AG slot.
My point was that, since — as you say, Mayes was elected by voter fraud — the attributes of any upcoming candidate are likely moot, until such time that Arizona elections are fumigated.
We slowly are making progress. Removing Richer from the Maricopa County Election Board was a gigantic step forward. The DOJ's actions coming in and taking ballots to review the 2020 election will also make a big difference. If they cheat they'll get caught and they know it. Now if only the DOJ would begin working in Pima County.
When the law is Irrelevant to you, what different does it make?
Petersen has a law degree
Legal Action: As Senate President, Petersen has been heavily involved in legal challenges, leading to some referring to him as a "de facto" attorney general, as he has joined lawsuits to defend state laws that current AG Kris Mayes has declined to defend.
Rodney Glassman is a democrat.
Warren Petersen is the consummate RINO! He's a big factor in all the election problems here in AZ and the lack of election reform. He is hated by conservatives. Although Glassman has a history, he is the far better candidate. We need to retire Petersen
Not a good case to endorse Petersen for AG.
He’s a RINO. His nickname is “Weak Warren.”
RINO trash needs to be purged AZ!!!