Once a star gang prosecutor at the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, Sponsel made a long and well-awarded career maliciously targeting Black people & the office’s political opponents. For years, she even trained police officers on how to abuse power by falsely testifying against defendants in court. And then we got her fired. This October, April Sponsel may never be able to practice law again.

During the 2020 uprising for Black lives, April Sponsel and the MCAO colluded with the Phoenix Police Department to politically target and falsely prosecute protesters. Sponsel would then concoct and enhance charges against activists, alleging they were part of a criminal street gang called “ACAB” through the false testimony of Phoenix Police Sgt. Doug McBride (Former Supervisor of the Tactical Response Unit). 

As a result of the pressure from Black, directly impacted organizers and the public demands for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, April Sponsel was fired for misconduct and lying to the grand jury in the 2020 protest cases. Fast forward to 2023, the Surprise Police Department contracted April Sponsel to again train cops on how to provide court testimony, despite Sponsel being fired for this very thing. We showed up to Surprise City Council demanding they cut ties with April Sponsel and they moved forward regardless of (or maybe because of) Sponsel’s history of deceit and violence. 

Now April Sponsel faces disbarment, potentially losing her ability to practice law entirely. Our Court Watch crew will bear witness to the hearings in October for April Sponsel’s disbarment, ensuring that this powerful system knows we are still here and we are watching. It’s behind these doors where things are swept under the rug and April Sponsel is no stranger to that.