Several groups and lawmakers have had enough of the way Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery is handling the controversy surrounding a well-known prosecutor, according to an open letter.

The letter, sent to the county attorney on Friday, calls for Montgomery to resign due to his actions regarding prosecutor Juan Martinez. Martinez gained international attention for his prosecution of Jodi Arias.

Democratic state representatives Athena Salman, Andres Cano, and Diego Rodriguez joined 20 groups accusing Montgomery of enabling Martinez to engage in sexual harassment and sex discrimination.

"This sort of failure in leadership and accountability is a major reason why widespread and systemic gender discrimination so often remains uncovered," the letter stated. "It is what leads victims of harassment and discrimination to stay in the shadows, believing that reporting misconduct will accomplish nothing or, worse, damage their own careers. And it enables powerful men to continue exploiting women for the sake of their own ambition."

Rodriguez told The Arizona Republic that a new person needs to be in charge to restore public trust in the county attorney's office.

"We reached a breaking point right now with a series of mistakes coming out of the office under his leadership," Rodriguez said.

The letter comes after a formal complaint was filed against Martinez by the State Bar of Arizona in March. The complaint accused the prosecutor of misconduct and sexual harassment against a court reporter with Marciopa County Superior Court and multiple coworkers at the Maricopa County Attorney's Office.

"The allegations included making inappropriate comments, primarily to law clerks, which were of a sexual nature, engaging in unwanted touching and making persistent unwelcome invitations to go to lunch or on a date," court documents stated.

A law clerk claims Martinez told her "he wanted to climb her like a statue, or words to that effect," according to court records. The documents stated the prosecutor invited her to Las Vegas and said he could guess the color of her underwear.

The group calling for Montgomery's resignation stated in the letter that there is now a "national reckoning" for powerful men who disrespect women "by disregarding their talent and skill and work ethic and reducing them to objects of sexual gratification."

Martinez has denied the underlying allegations.

"Mr. Martinez looks forward to the opportunity to defend himself and be exonerated from this Bar charge," his attorney Donald Wilson, Jr. said via e-mail to The Republic in March. "This will not deter him from continuing to do the fine work he has done for the citizens of Maricopa County."

Women's March Phoenix was among the groups that signed the letter. Organizer Murphy Bannerman said she believes women when they speak out against harassment, and will continue to advocate for fair and equal treatment of women in work and society.

"Women's March Phoenix supports this effort to seek integrity within our justice system and hold the powerful accountable," Bannerman said. "Martinez's behavior towards women is heinous and must have immediate consequences. The fact that Montgomery has allowed Martinez to continue to work and to potentially continue harassing women is pure negligence."

According to the letter, the county attorney is "part of the problem."

"Bill Montgomery, holding a position of extraordinary public trust, has refused to be part of the solution, of the reckoning that has touched nearly every industry in America," according to the letter.

A spokesperson for the Maricopa County Attorney's Office told The Republic that the office will respond in writing to those who sent the letter.

"We’re grateful for the opportunity to address issues of common concern and correct misinformation surrounding issues of employee discipline in the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office," according to the office's statement.

Have thoughts on Arizona's legal system? Reach criminal justice reporter Lauren Castle at Lauren.Castle@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter: @Lauren_Castle.