A former prosecutor best known for winning a murder conviction against Jodi Arias in the killing of her former boyfriend was reprimanded Thursday by the Arizona Supreme Court for violating an ethical rule at three other death penalty trials.
Though the State Bar of Arizona alleged Juan Martinez violated ethical rules at the Arias trial, the state’s highest court did not find that he broke the rules in that case.
The court concluded that efforts by Martinez to elicit sympathy for victims and fear of defendants and his failure to follow court rulings had jeopardized the integrity of the legal system.
Martinez was fired from Maricopa County earlier this year after 32 years.
