Tim Nelson to Join Attorney General’s Office as Chief Deputy

(Phoenix, Ariz. – June 25, 2009) Attorney General Terry Goddard today announced that Tim Nelson will be joining the Attorney General’s Office as its Chief Deputy Attorney General.  In this capacity, he will oversee the Office’s legal divisions, including criminal prosecutions, consumer fraud litigation and advice to state agencies.  

Nelson’s appointment marks his return to the Attorney General’s Office’s management team. From 2000-2003, he served as Special Counsel to then-Attorney General Janet Napolitano.  During this time, Nelson ran the Office’s Antitrust Unit and served as Chief Tobacco Counsel.  His accomplishments in this role include acting as the state’s lead negotiator in the landmark $217 million settlement with Arthur Andersen in the Baptist Foundation investment scandal. 

Nelson currently works as Senior Counsel to the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. Prior to this, he served as a partner at the Phoenix law firm of Osborn Maledon, and from 2003 to 2008, as General Counsel to then-Governor Napolitano. 

“I am pleased that Tim accepted the offer to return to the Attorney General’s Office’s leadership team. His great expertise in the complicated legal matters faced by the state will ensure that my Office continues to provide the highest quality legal representation to our client agencies and the State of Arizona,” Goddard said. 

“I’m excited to return to law enforcement and grateful to the Attorney General for this opportunity,” Nelson said. “I look forward to giving my all to this job.” 

Nelson received his B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his law degree from George Washington University. While in law school, he was a member of The George Washington Law Review and served as a legal intern to the United States Senate Judiciary Committee. 

Nelson will join the Office in mid-July. As Chief Deputy, he will succeed Terri Skladany, who is retiring from the Office on June 30 after nearly 21 years of service.  

For additional information, contact Anne Hilby at (602) 542-8019.