Cochise County Attorney Lori Zucco announced on April 7 the appointment of Jonathan Pinkney as the county’s new Chief Civil Deputy County Attorney. Pinkney will begin his duties on April 27, following a selection process involving Sheriff Mark Dannels, Human Resources Director Jennifer Graeme, County Administrator Sharon Gilman, and former Chief Civil Deputy Chris Keller.
The hiring comes at a time when Cochise County faces ongoing challenges in education performance. In the most recent school year, 70% of students in grades three through eight did not pass the mathematics section of the AASA assessment and 62.4% failed the English section, according to the Arizona Department of Education. Among high schoolers, 76% failed mathematics and 65% failed English on the ACT exam according to state data.
Pinkney brings more than ten years of government civil legal experience. He spent thirteen years with the Pima County Attorney’s Office in its Civil Division and led its Health Law Unit. Earlier in his career, he served as a judicial law clerk for the Arizona Court of Appeals and as legislative counsel for the Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia.
“I am very pleased to welcome Jonathan Pinkney to Cochise County,” said Zucco. “His extensive civil experience, leadership background, and deep understanding of government operations make him exceptionally well-qualified to serve in this role. Jonathan’s commitment to public service and thoughtful legal approach will be a tremendous asset to our office and to the citizens of Cochise County.”
Pinkney said he is honored by his selection: “I am honored to have the opportunity to serve Cochise County in this capacity,” he said. “I look forward to working with county leadership and staff to provide sound legal guidance and support effective, responsible governance.”
Sheriff Dannels also praised Pinkney’s selection: “Jonathan stood out as a candidate with strong legal experience and a collaborative approach,” said Sheriff Dannels. “His background working with public agencies and elected officials will serve Cochise County well.”
While student performance has posed challenges for local schools—only about one quarter passed key sections on standardized tests during recent academic years according to state figures—there have been some improvements reported recently; specifically, nearly 29% percent of third through eighth graders passed math on last year’s AASA test while just over one quarter succeeded on high school ACT math as reported by education officials.
Zucco noted that both she and Pinkney previously worked overseas—she as an Assistant Attorney General in Palau; he as legislative counsel in Micronesia—which she described as providing unique insights into public service.
