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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 13 reviews | Recommendation
Posted by Lee | January 26, 2026 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense
#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 Brent | November 11, 2025 | Hired Attorney
A dedicated, caring, and professional firm committed to getting the best possible outcome for their clients.
I give Josh Kolsrud, and the entire team at Kolsrud Law Offices, including Santana and Neveah, my highest recommendation. They are a dedicated, caring, and professional firm committed to getting the best possible outcome for their clients. They helped me navigate every step of the complex legal syste...
Posted by Luis | December 12, 2024 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense
Exelente abogado y Persona
Hace aproximadamente un año me arrestaron, pase muchos problemas el abogado que asigna el gobierno no me ayudaba y josh hizo un exelente trabajo en mi primera corte con el pude salir para pelear mi caso desde afuera, es un exelente abogado es muy bueno recaudando información para ayudarte en tu caso,...
Posted by anonymous | December 03, 2024 | Hired Attorney | Lawsuits & Disputes
Best criminal defense attorney
Amazing communication very responsible well known in the courthouse very honest and professional helped me for 2 years to get the results we were looking for very happy with the results I would hire him again with no doubt.
Posted by Kristopher | October 09, 2024 | Hired Attorney
Great Service
I had a great experience with Kolshrud Offices and I appreciate everything they did to assist me! I would highly recommend!
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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
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