(Phoenix, Ariz. – March 2, 2007) Attorney General Terry Goddard today announced that Paul W. Ahler, former Chief Deputy for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, has joined the Attorney General’s Criminal Division.
Ahler brings to the office more than 26 years of experience as a prosecutor and has handled many high-profile cases, including the 1991 Temple murders. For the last two years, Ahler handled death penalty cases in the County Attorney’s Homicide Bureau.
“I am excited to be gaining a lawyer of Paul’s vast experience and ability,” Goddard said. “He will enlarge and sharpen our capacity to prosecute major cases.”
Ahler joined the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office in 1984 and served in various leadership positions. They included overseeing the Special Crimes Division, which encompassed the homicide, sex crimes, organized crimes and gang/repeat offender bureaus. He was named Chief Deputy in 1993 and served in that position for 12 years.
Maricopa County named Ahler Prosecutor of the Year on three separate occasions. He currently serves as an at-large member of the Arizona State Bar Board of Governors. Ahler is a graduate of Purdue University and Arizona State University’s College of Law.