PHOENIX, Ariz. (Legal Newsline)-Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard has announced his appointment of a new chief deputy to oversee the office's legal divisions.

Goddard, a Democrat, announced Thursday that he has tapped Tim Nelson to serve as his No. 2 beginning next month.

In a statement, the attorney general said Nelson will oversee criminal prosecutions, consumer fraud litigation and advice to state agencies.

Nelson had served as special counsel to then-Attorney General Janet Napolitano from 2000 to 2003, running the office's Antitrust Unit and serving as chief tobacco counsel. He left the attorney general's office to serve Napolitano after she was elected governor.

He currently serves as senior counsel to the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. Nelson will take the post in mid-July. As chief deputy, he will succeed Terri Skladany, who is retiring.

"I am pleased that Tim accepted the offer to return to the attorney
general's office's leadership team. His great expertise in the
complicated legal matters faced by the state will ensure that my office continues to provide the highest quality legal representation to our client agencies and the State of Arizona," Goddard said.

Nelson received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his law degree from George Washington University.

From Legal Newsline: Reach staff reporter Chris Rizo at chrisrizo@legalnewsline.com.