Bill Hughes, Yavapai County Deputy Attorney.

Hughes joined the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office in 2002 and has rapidly worked his way up from justice court prosecutor to supervising attorney. During the past twelve months, Hughes worked in the trial division for eight months, prosecuting some very difficult trials, handling a full caseload and serving as the lead attorney. Among the cases that Hughes tried to a jury were a burglary, kidnapping and attempted murder, an aggravated assault on a peace officer, and several meth sales cases.

Hughes possesses a silver tongue spun with hometown charm, and his eloquence and use of euphemisms are on full display during his closing arguments. “What is particularly impressive about Hughes is his consistently solid judgment and evaluation of cases that reflects a strong and deeply-rooted sense of justice,” commented Polk. “He is sensitive to victims’ issues and works hard to ease victims through the trauma and stress associated with the system.”

In March of 2008, Hughes was promoted to supervisor of the Charging Division. In this capacity, he supervises seven attorneys and nine support staff, oversees two grand juries, and manages the county’s Early Disposition Court. On average, Hughes’s division reviews and charges between 250 and 300 felonies each month, presents cases to two grand juries and handles full-day EDC calendars twice each week. The large majority of these cases will be resolved at EDC, usually within two weeks of a suspect’s arrest..

Hughes provides high quality office wide training trial preparation and other topics. He is a born teacher, displaying patience and kindness when teaching and mentoring others in the office.

In addition to the long hours he puts into the office’s work, Hughes finds time to perform community service. He has volunteered as the Mock Trial Team Coach for our local Prescott High School team for several years running, and has led the team each year to the regional and state competitions. The high school students highly value Hughes’s instruction and the time he devotes to their program.

Polk stated, “Hughes’s calm demeanor, great disposition, outstanding trial skills, cheerful shouldering of all work sent his way, his professionalism and his patience are truly an asset to the office.”

Hughes will be considered for the state Outstanding Felony Prosecutor Award to be awarded at the state Annual Prosecutors Conference in August.

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