Joshua Kolsrud
Josh Kolsrud has practiced criminal law for over 14 years and has tried
over 50 jury trials while winning in four jurisdictions, including Maricopa
County Superior Court, Coconino County Superior Court, Arizona Federal
District Court, and internationally in the Republic of Palau.
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 at 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,
white-collar, undeclared cash, and Fish and Wildlife crimes. Josh also
worked in the “ACE” unit civilly prosecuting those violating
federal regulations.
Josh is a talented legal writer authoring and winning two complicated appeals
before the Ninth Circuit. Josh 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. Just over the past three years, Josh has chaired
and led the Council twice. The Bar recognized Josh’s outstanding
leadership by rewarding him and his Council 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,
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.
Bar Admissions
- Arizona, 2007
- U.S. District Court of Arizona, 2016
- Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, 2016
Awards and Honors
- Attorney of the Month, four times at the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office
- Numerous Visa gift card awards for out standing trial work, Maricopa County
Attorney’s Office
- Chairman for the Arizona State Bar’s Council on Persons with Disabilities
in the Legal Profession, 2020, 2021
- Law School Dean’s List, University of Miami School of Law
- CALI Excellence for the Future Award, University of Miami School of Law
-
Summa Cum Laude, ASU Undergrad
- Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society