Tim Delaney, shown here with his wife Betsy, shows off his Distinguished Public Service award.
His performance--and victory--when he faced the U.S. Supreme Court in 1997 is described as brilliant by his colleagues.
His ethical standards are grounded in the teachings of his mentor, Barbara Jordan.
His tireless efforts on behalf of his community have touched and transformed many lives.
He is Tim Delaney--a public attorney and community leader who has integrated his LBJ School training into an impressive career of public service.
A 1983 joint degree (law) graduate of the LBJ School, Delaney became Arizona's Chief Deputy Attorney General in January. He is also the 1998 winner of the LBJ School Alumni Association's Distinguished Public Service Award.
As Chief Deputy Attorney General, Delaney serves as the Attorney General's chief of staff and chief adviser. He is also the chief legal and operational officer for the Attorney General's Office, which has more than 300 lawyers, 900 employees, and a budget of over $63 million.
Until his promotion in January Delaney served as Arizona's Solicitor General and was in charge of the state's civil appeals in all state and federal courts. This included a case he argued successfully before the U.S. Supreme Court and three other victories that Arizona won before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Prior to joining the Attorney General's Office in January 1995, Delaney was a partner and director with the law firm of Brown & Bain. There, he worked on a wide variety of civil matters, with particular emphasis on media law and government relations.
In 1992, Delaney helped conceive, draft, and lobby for enactment of Arizona's Public Service Orientation Act, which established mandatory ethics training for every state officer, employee, and board or commission member. He also is responsible for the development of ethics guidebooks for public servants employed by the City of Phoenix and the State of Arizona.
Delaney has been active in his profession at the national, state, and local levels and has achieved recognition at each level. Among these honors is the 1996-97 Marvin Award, presented by the National Association of Attorneys General. Nominated for "improving the practice of the States before the United States Supreme Court," he was chosen from a pool of 10,000 eligible assistant attorneys general across the country.
Other honors include a Freedom of Information Award presented in 1998 by the Arizona Newspapers Association for his work enforcing the state's Open Meeting Law. In 1996 the City of Phoenix dedicated "The Delaney Family Background" at Royal Palm Park to honor Delaney's public service.
As a leader in his community, Delaney has successfully combined his expertise in the fields of law and public affairs with his belief in volunteerism. He has served as chair of the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Board; member of the Governor's Regulatory Review Council and the Arizona Election Reform Study Committee; president of Valley Leadership; and cofounder and president of the Valley Citizens League, a nonpartisan citizens forum that serves as a catalyst for individuals to initiate public policy legislation.
In his letter of recommendation for the Distinguished Public Service Award, Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods described Delaney's ability to perceive the interests of the state as a whole in fashioning his advice.
"He does not give in to the sometimes short-term interests that too often affect those who pose the questions," he said. "I know he credits his good, solid background from the LBJ School of Public Affairs. While I suspect that a healthy dose of common sense also helps shape his opinions, good training of good minds never hurts either."
Another supporter noted that Delaney, as a former student of LBJ School Professor Barbara Jordan, provides "evidence that her spirit is alive and well and living in Phoenix, Arizona."
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