Assistant City Prosecutor Bill Solomon was recently awarded Arizona Misdemeanor Prosecutor of the Year by the Arizona Prosecuting Attorneys’ Advisory Council for his work that may have an impact on jury trials across the state.

Solomon was nominated after he wrote the state’s brief that addressed the state’s concerns with inconsistent guidelines for misdemeanor jury trials. In October 2004, he argued the case before the Arizona Supreme Court. After nearly 40 years, the court reevaluated and modified its standard for jury trial eligibility, and the changes are expected to impact every misdemeanor prosecutor in Arizona.

Since 1966, defense attorneys have attempted to extend the right to jury trial for misdemeanor offenses. Prosecutors have opposed these attempts and sought a simpler standard. A misdemeanor jury trial can be an expensive and a time-consuming case to prosecute before a jury. For example, a D.U.I. case can cost tax payers more than $3,000 to prosecute.

Solomon grew up in Show Low and obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona. In 1999, he graduated cum laude from Arizona State University College of Law. He completed internships at the Arizona House of Representatives and the Scottsdale City Prosecutor’s Office before joining the city of Phoenix Prosecutor’s Office in 2000. He has worked in the office’s trial and appeals bureaus and has argued cases before the Arizona Court of Appeals and the Arizona Supreme Court.