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Josh Kolsrud has practiced criminal law since 2006, when he began prosecuting juveniles as a third-year law student. Since then, Josh has tried over 100 trials, including winning jury trials in Maricopa County, Coconino County, U.S. Federal District Court of Arizona, and internationally in the Republic of Palau. Josh also handled 3,528 cases as a federal prosecutor.
Josh began his legal career handling thousands of felony cases at the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for over five years. Josh was awarded the “Attorney of the Month” award several times for his outstanding trial work. Josh was promoted to Major Crimes and spent two years in the Repetitive Offender Bureau.
Josh then headed to the South Pacific working for the tiny island-nation of the Republic of Palau. Palau’s attorney general heard about Josh’s reputation as an aggressive trial attorney and recruited Josh to spearhead an anti-human sex trafficking operation. The operation was successful as Josh helped save hundreds of Filipino girls from sexual slavery. Josh also successfully tried the only second jury trial in Palau’s history while helping bring Palau into the modern legal system.
The Coconino County Attorney’s Office recruited Josh as its Senior Trial Attorney handling all high-profile cases as well as training and supervising less experienced attorneys. Josh handled most homicide, capital cases, sex crimes, and white-collar crimes in Coconino County.
The United States Attorney’s Office later recruited Josh to work on a variety of cases including drug trafficking, illegal reentry, human smuggling, gun crimes, white-collar, undeclared cash, and Fish and Wildlife crimes. Josh spent over five and a half years as an Assistant United States Attorney working closely with federal agencies on complex criminal cases. Josh also worked in the “ACE” unit prosecuting complex civil fraud cases.
Josh is a talented legal writer authoring and winning two complicated appeals before the Ninth Circuit. Josh also has an excellent reputation from his peers, including many judges and attorneys. It is no surprise that Josh has received numerous awards and accommodations for his outstanding trial work.
Josh is a leader at the State Bar of Arizona, which began in 2007 after he volunteered and was accepted by the Young Lawyer’s Division. Josh was later accepted and graduated from the prestigious Bar Leadership Institute. Josh passionately volunteers much of his time helping the disabled. Josh is a member of the Bar’s Council on Persons with Disabilities in the Legal Profession, which he chaired for three years. During Josh’s time as chair, the Bar recognized Josh’s outstanding leadership by rewarding him the prestigious “Presidential Award” twice for outstanding leadership, and excellence in the legal community for its seminar at the annual Arizona Bar Convention. Josh is an outstanding public speaker as noted by his trial experience, and the Bar’s frequent requests to have Josh serve as a faculty member giving motivational speeches.
Josh is a native Phoenician and graduated from Central High School in 1999. Josh later graduated, summa cum laude, from ASU’s Barrett Honors College in 2004. Josh received his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the University of Miami School of Law in 2007.
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State: Arizona
Acquired: 2007
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Showing 1 - 5 of 50 reviews
Posted by anonymous | February 23, 2026 | Hired Attorney
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
I have had the opportunity to work with Josh on a legal matter. From start to finish it has been an extremely positive experience! Both Josh and his assistant, Santana, have been very responsive, kind, and knowledgeable. I was invited to reach out at a moment's notice if needed and they would be h...
Posted by Lee | January 26, 2026 | Hired Attorney
#1 defense Attorney in Arizona
#1 Defense Attorney in Arizona. The Franklin family definitely appreciates all you have done for us! Thanks again Josh!
Posted by Ana | January 16, 2026 | Hired Attorney
Success for your case!
Choosing Josh Kolsrud to defend my husband's case was a very good decision. Getting involved right away with everything related to the case to be able to help us in the best ways and working hard for you PERSONALLY for the best possible outcome. Not only he pays extra attention to everything inv...
Posted by anonymous | January 06, 2026 | Hired Attorney
Knowledgeable attorney that cares
It's a great honor to have Josh as my son's attorney for the state and federal cases that my son has created for himself. He has presented my son to the point not to spend 4 years plus for the state case and 4 years plus for the federal case separately. He has given my son advice as a big brother to ...
Posted by Laura | November 25, 2025 | Hired Attorney
Compassion, Clarity, and Humanity When I Needed It Most
I retained Josh to represent me earlier this year, and I am incredibly grateful for the time he was my lawyer. I had never been in any trouble before—not even a school detention—so being thrown into the criminal system for the first time was absolutely terrifying. My life went from normal to unrecogn...
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2022
Top 100 Criminal Defense, The National Trial Lawyers
2022
Litigator of the Year, American Institute of Trial Lawyers
N/A
Attorney of the Month (Four Times), Maricopa County Attorney’s Office
2020 - Present
Arizona State Bar - Council on Persons with Disabilities in the Legal ProfessionChairman
N/A
English
Spanish