After cancer claimed the life of Michael C. Cudahy, former chief council for the Criminal Division at the Attorney General’s Office, the State Bar of Arizona created an award in his honor to enshrine his memory and ethic.
Colleagues of Mr. Cudahy recall a serious and talented attorney respected for his sharp sense of justice and personal duty to prosecute prominent figures with total disregard for political or professional ramifications.
“What I learned through my work with Mike was that he conducted himself with the utmost integrity, no matter the political party or muscle of the accuser, the accused, the victim or the witness,” said Tina McMillion, section chief of special investigations, criminal division of the Attorney General’s Office.
“He liked getting the bad guys,” said Maricopa Superior Court Judge Warren J. Granville, who had served as a fellow assistant attorney general with Mr. Cudahy “He took great pride in his work, but there was never any touchdown celebration. He was a big deal.”
Mr. Cudahy is most remembered for his work with fellow attorney Barnett Lotstein in attempt to prosecute former Arizona Governor Evan Mecham, who was accused of violating campaign finance laws for allegedly failing to report a $350,000 loan in 1988.
Mr. Mecham was eventually acquitted, but Mr. Cudahy did convict Mr. Mecham’s administration member Sam Steiger, a six-term Arizona congressman, for extortion for threatening a member of the state Board of Pardons and Paroles.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Cudahy also helped prosecute Robert Fendler, the CEO of the failed Lincoln and U.S. Thrift, for his role in bilking investors out of $53 million in 1979. The financial group had collected $63 million from approximately 20,000 people. Three of Mr. Fendler’s accomplices were also found guilty.
Mr. Cudahy died in January at the age of 57. Survivors include his wife Joan, daughter Catherine and son John.