Mary O'Grady's practice focuses on appeals, civil litigation and administrative law. As a former Solicitor General for the State of Arizona, Mary has a unique breadth of experience with public law issues. She has represented the State of Arizona and public officials in a variety of complex, high profile lawsuits and appeals in state and federal court. Her work has included ten cases that the United States Supreme Court heard on the merits. Mary's areas of expertise include election and campaign finance law, the Voting Rights Act, State constitutional law, government contracts, state legislation, open meeting and public records laws, redistricting and school finance. Mary has also worked extensively in the area of tribal-state relations, with a particular focus on tribal-state agreements.
Representative Matters
- Arizona Indep. Redistricting Comm'n v. Brewer, 229 Ariz. 347, 275 P.3d 1267, 632 Ariz. Adv. Rep. 32 (Ariz. 2012)
(special action appeal holding that Governor’s removal of Commission’s chairperson was unconstitutional)
- State ex rel. Montgomery v. Comm'r Colleen Mathis, 231 Ariz. 103, 290 P.3d 1226 (Ariz. App. 2012)
(addressing powers of County Attorney to investigate members of Independent Redistricting Commission and affirming injunction against investigation)
- Adams v. the Comm'n On Appellate Court Appointments, 227 Ariz. 128, 254 P.3d 367 (Ariz. 2011)
(state constitutional challenge to applicants for Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission)
- Harvey v. Brewer, 605 F.3d 1067 (9th Cir. 2010)
(federal constitutional challenge to Arizona’s felon disenfranchisement laws)
- Gonzalez v. State, 624 F.3d 1162 (9th Cir. 2010)
- Arizona v. Gant, 556 U.S. __, 129 S. Ct. 1710, 173 L. Ed. 2d 485 (2009), 129 S. Ct. 1710, 173 L. Ed. 2d 485 (S.Ct. 2009)
- Early Child. Devel. & Health Bd. v. Brewer, 212 P.3d 805, 221 Ariz. 467 (Ariz. 2009)
- League of Ariz. Cities and Towns v. Martin, 201 P.3d 517, 219 Ariz. 556 (Ariz. 2009)
- Tucson Women's Center v. Arizona Medical Bd., 666 F.Supp.2d 1091 (D. Ariz. 2009)
- Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc. v. Napolitano, 558 F.3d 856 (9th Cir. 2008)
- Jenkins v. Hale, 190 P.3d 175, 218 Ariz. 561 (Ariz. 2008)
- Time v. Brewer, 196 P.3d 229, 219 Ariz. 207 (Ariz. 2008)
(timeliness of challenge to decision to disqualify initiative signatures)
- Gonzalez v. Arizona, 485 F.3d 1041 (9th Cir. 2007)
- Kromko v. Arizona Bd. of Regents, 165 P.3d 168, 216 Ariz. 190 (Ariz. 2007)
- Yes On Prop 200 v. Napolitano, 160 P.3d 1216, 215 Ariz. 458 (Ariz. App. 2007)
- Forty-Seventh Legislature v. Napolitano, 143 P.3d 1023, 213 Ariz. 482 (Ariz. 2006)
- Friendly House v. Napolitano, 419 F.3d 930 (Fed. 9th Cir. 2005)
- Bennett v. Napolitano, 206 Ariz. 520, 81 P.3d 311 (Ariz. 2003)
- Roosevelt Elementary School v. State, 74 P.3d 258, 205 Ariz. 584 (Ariz. App. 2003)
- Wells Fargo Credit Corp. v. Arizona Property and Cas. Ins. Guar. Fund, 799 P.2d 908, 165 Ariz. 567 (Ariz. App. 1990)
- Kelley v. Arizona Dept. of Corrections, 744 P.2d 3, 154 Ariz. 476 (Ariz. 1987)
- Long v. Napolitano, 203 Ariz. 247, 53 P.3d 172 (App. 2002)
- Hibbs v. Winn, 542 U.S. 88 (2004)
- Clark v. Arizona, 165 L.Ed.2d 842, 548 U.S. 735 (2006)
- Horne v. Flores, No. 08-289 (U.S. 6/25/2009), 129 S.Ct. 2579, 174 L. Ed. 2d 406 (2009)
- Arizona v. Johnson, 129 S.Ct. 781, 172 L.Ed.2d 694 (2009)
- Ariz. Christian Sch. v. Winn, 131 S.Ct. 1436, 179 L.Ed.2d 523 (2011)
- Chamber of Commerce of the United States v. Whiting, 131 S. Ct. 1968 (2011)
- Ariz. Citizens Clean Elections Comm'n v. Brain, 234 Ariz. 322, 322 P.3d 139, 683 Ariz. Adv. Rep. 43 (Ariz., 2014)
(holding that legislation modifying contribution limits does not violate state constitutional requirements for modifying voter initiatives)
- Harris v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, 993 F. Supp. 2d 1042 (D. Ariz. 2014)
(three-judge panel) (rejecting claims that legislative districting plan violated Constitution)
- Arizona State Legislature v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, 997 F. Supp. 2d 1047 (D. Ariz. 2014)
(three-judge panel) (holding that independent commission created by popular initiative did not violate Elections Clause)
- American Free Enterprise Club's Freedom Club PAC v Bennett, 564 U.S. ____ (2011)
- Purcell v. Gonzalez, 549 U.S. 1 (2006) (per curiam)
Significant Amicus Briefs
- Amicus Brief on behalf of Selected States in Citizens United v. FEC, 130 S. Ct. 876 (2010)