Corrections & Clarifications: A previous version of this story had the incorrect last name of Rachel Mitchell.

Rachel Mitchell, a Maricopa County sex crimes prosecutor, will lead questioning in the potentially explosive hearing involving Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and a woman accusing him of sexually assaulting her decades ago.

Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery, Mitchell's boss, praised Mitchell's experience, calling her a "professional, fair, objective prosecutor" who has a "caring heart" for victims. He said he was contacted by staffers to the judiciary committee over the weekend about Mitchell's availability and qualifications.

Montgomery added, "The people of America are well served with her involvement in this process."

The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee chairman, Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, confirmed late Tuesday that Mitchell would question the witnesses scheduled to testify as Republican members’ nomination investigative counsel.

Christine Blasey Ford has accused Kavanaugh of pinning her to a bed, groping her and trying to remove her clothes at a party in the early 1980s, when she was 15 and he was 17.

In a statement, Grassley said he wants to provide a forum that is “safe, comfortable and dignified” for both Ford and Kavanaugh.

“The majority members have followed the bipartisan recommendation to hire as staff counsel for the committee an experienced career sex-crimes prosecutor to question the witnesses at Thursday’s hearing,” Grassley’s statement said.

“The goal is to de-politicize the process and get to the truth, instead of grandstanding and giving senators an opportunity to launch their presidential campaigns. I’m very appreciative that Rachel Mitchell has stepped forward to serve in this important and serious role. Ms. Mitchell has been recognized in the legal community for her experience and objectivity.”

Grassley's statement said Mitchell is on leave as deputy county attorney in the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office and the division chief of the Special Victims Division.

Mitchell has worked as a prosecutor since 1993 and spent 12 years running the bureau in the division responsible for the prosecution of sex-related felonies, including child molestation, adult sexual assault and cold cases.

She is experienced at training detectives, prosecutors, child-welfare works and others who work with victims, the best methods for forensic interviews of sex-crimes victims.

Neither Sen. Jeff Flake nor Sen. Jon Kyl, both R-Ariz., could be reached for comment late Tuesday. They have not responded to The Arizona Republic's attempts to reach them about the claims against Kavanaugh for a week.

In Arizona, others in law enforcement circles were unaware of Mitchell's possible involvement but spoke highly of her.

"She’s been a longtime sex crimes prosecutor. She’s clearly competent," said Rick Romley, a former Maricopa County attorney.

Paul Ahler, who worked at the County Attorney's Office years ago, described Mitchell as a "really good, solid prosecutor."

"She’s one of these career prosecutors who specializes in sex crimes," said Ahler, who now works at the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. "It’s hard to find those people because a lot of people get burned out on those issues, but it’s kind of been her life mission."

In 2014, the Maricopa County Commission on Trial Court Appointments recommended her as one of nine candidates to then-Gov. Jan Brewer for consideration as a Maricopa County Superior Court judge.

Providing justice to sex-crimes victims

Much of Mitchell's career has been focused on providing justice to victims of sex crimes. Her work includes cases ranging from child molestation to computer crimes against children.

Earlier this year, Mitchell talked with KJZZ-FM (91.5) about a new protocol manual that the County Attorney’s Office introduced to Arizona as best practices to ensure justice for victims.

During that January interview, Mitchell said the new protocols would outline the best way to handle investigations into sexual assaults "so we can do the best we can for victims."

Mitchell has trained others is how to make effective use of children who are victims of abuse.

She has also headed the Major Crimes Bureau Chief, where she supervised sex crimes, family violence, and repeat-offender cases.

In 2003, she was recognized as Arizona's outstanding sexual-assault prosecutor. In 2006, she was the County Attorney’s Office's Prosecutor of the Year.

Republicans have been searching for days to find a woman to handle Thursday's much-anticipated hearing, which could affect the confirmation prospects of a nominee who could shape the high court's ideology for decades.

All 11 Republicans on the Judiciary Committee — including Flake — are men, a fact that many see as an optics problem for the GOP, which is trying to salvage Kavanaugh's nomination without being seen as trammeling his accuser.

Flake has said he was uncomfortable voting on Kavanaugh's nomination until his accuser was heard.

Kyl, meanwhile, had helped guide Kavanaugh through the Senate confirmation process until he was appointed senator following the death of U.S. Sen. John McCain- R-Ariz.

Kyl’s appointment moved him from escorting Kavanaugh through the confirmation process to a position that allows him to vote to confirm him.

Thursday's hearing comes as the November elections are looming and Republicans see an opportunity to cement control of the court at risk if Democrats retake the Senate.

Eliza Collins of USA TODAY contributed to this report.

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