Josh Kolsrud

Joshua Kolsrud is a criminal defense attorney at Kolsrud Law Offices, bringing a rare background as a former state and federal prosecutor to his defense practice. His career reflects deep courtroom experience, aggressive advocacy, and a strong understanding of how prosecutors build and pursue criminal cases at every level.

Josh earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law in 2007. He graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State University’s Barrett Honors College and holds bar admissions in Arizona, multiple federal courts, and the Ninth Circuit. His many honors include recognition as a National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorney and Litigator of the Year.

Josh began his legal career at the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, where he handled thousands of felony cases over more than five years. His exceptional trial performance earned him multiple “Attorney of the Month” awards and a promotion to the Major Crimes Division, followed by work in the Repetitive Offender Bureau handling serious and complex cases.

Josh’s career later expanded internationally when he was recruited by the Republic of Palau to lead an anti-human sex trafficking operation. His work helped rescue hundreds of victims and included participating in one of the country’s earliest jury trials, contributing to the modernization of its legal system.

After returning to the United States, Josh served as a Senior Trial Attorney with the Coconino County Attorney’s Office, prosecuting homicide, capital, sex crime, and white-collar cases. He later spent more than five years as an Assistant United States Attorney, handling federal cases involving drug trafficking, human trafficking, gun crimes, fraud, and financial investigations.

Josh Kolsrud is also an accomplished legal writer, having authored and won complex appeals before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He has been featured more than 160 times on news programs nationwide and is frequently recognized for his trial skills by peers and judges.

Law Office Affiliations

• Attorney, Kolsrud Law Offices
• Member, State Bar of Arizona

Licensed State

• Arizona

Education

•  University of Miami School of Law
  Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD)
• Arizona State University’s Barrett Honors College
  BA with Summa Cum Laude

Awards & Badges