Josh Hamilton
Biography
Josh Hamilton wanted to be a criminal defense attorney since he was a small child and began his career with Clay Hernandez immediately upon graduating from law school in New York City. Josh decided to leave New York and start working alongside Clay because he felt there was no better way to develop and hone his skills as a criminal defense attorney than to learn from one of the best in the business. Since relocating to Tucson in 2010, Josh has developed into a skilled defense attorney, successfully arguing cases before the Arizona Supreme Court and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, including a high-profile victory in a Supreme Court case which dismantled the abusive police practice of forcing suspects to submit to warrantless search following arrest. See State v. Butler, 232 Ariz. 84, 302 P.3d 609 (2013). Josh has expertly represented clients in many high-profile matters, including cases featured in the Arizona Daily Star, People Magazine, U.S. News and World Report, and NBC News.
Josh is one of the fastest-rising stars in criminal defense in Arizona, whose devotion and determination to protect the accused has led to successful outcomes in countless cases in Arizona. Josh is a proud Tucsonan and alumnus of the University of Arizona. He takes his role as a criminal defense attorney as serious as life and death. He has been recognized as a Rising Star by Southwest SuperLawyers and was featured as a Top Attorney in Arizona by Phoenix Magazine.
Resume
EDUCATION:
University of Arizona, B.A., 2006
New York Law School, J.D., 2010
LICENSED:
Arizona, 2010
District of Arizona, 2010
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, 2013
U.S. Supreme Court, 2017
PRO HAC VICE ADMISSIONS:
Southern District of California, 2016
Ohio, 2017
PUBLISHED CASES:
State v. Murray, 250 Ariz. 543 (2021)
United States v. Halamek, 5 F.4th 1081 (9th Cir. 2021)
Hansen v. Chon-Lopez, 252 Ariz. 250 (App. 2021)
Willis v. Bernini, 253 Ariz. 453 (2022)
State v. Butler, 232 Ariz. 84, 302 P.3d 609 (2013)
United States v. Guillen-Cervantes, 748 F.3d 870 (9th Cir. 2014)
United States v. Carpenter et al., 923 F.3d 1172 (9th Cir. 2019)
State v. Murray, 247 Ariz. 583 (App. 2019)
United States v. Voris, 964 F.3d 864 (9th Cir. 2020)
ACTIVITIES:
Guest Lecturer, “Defending the Client Pre-Indictment: Strategies & Techniques” APDA Statewide Conference (2018)
Member, Criminal Practice & Procedure Committee, State Bar of Arizona (2019-present)
Board of Governors, Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice (2018-present)
MEMBERSHIP:
Member, Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice
Sustaining Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Sustaining Member, Pima County Bar Association
PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION AND AWARDS:
Top Attorneys in Arizona (Phoenix Magazine)
Southwest Super Lawyers Rising Star, Criminal Law
AVVO Client’s Choice Award
Top 40 under 40 (The National Trial Lawyers)
Martindale-Hubbel “AV” rating, Individual & Firm
Best Law Firms by U.S. News & World Report