Professional Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Affiliations
Timeline

John Canby

Maricopa County Public Defender's Office
CHANDLER,AZ
41
years of professional experience

Experienced lead capital trial lawyer available for case consultation, jury selection preparation and expert testimony.

Work History

Capital Resource Counsel

11 Years 1 Month
Maricopa County Public Defender's Office | 05.2015 - 06.2026
  • Provided in house consultation to 10 capital defense teams in the Public Defender's Office
  • Directly represented capital clients as associate counsel.

Deputy Legal Defender

17 Years 1 Month
Maricopa County Legal Defender's Office | 04.1998 - 05.2015

-Lead Capital Counsel leading five member teams in Capital Defense Unit

-Defended over 55 1st Degree Murder Cases

Deputy County Attorney

9 Years 1 Month
Pinal County Attorney's Office | 04.1989 - 05.1998

Bureau Chief of Pretrial Unit responsible for charging felony cases in Pinal County including working with law enforcement agencies on criminal case investigations.

Criminal Defense Attorney

3 Years 8 Months
Toles and Associates, P.C. | 08.1985 - 04.1989
  • Criminal Defense Attorney representing clients charged with misdemeanors and felonies in city and county court.

Education

J.D. - Law

Arizona State University | Tempe, AZ | 05-1985

Bachelor of Arts - Political Science And Government

Oberlin College | Oberlin, OH | 05-1982

Skills

25 Years of Experience Defending Capital Cases in Maricopa County
Arizona.
2016-2026 Faculty Member National College of Capital Voir Dire
in Boulder
Colorado

Affiliations

-2012 President Arizona Attorney's For Criminal Justice

-2015-2016 Member of Maricopa County Capital Contract Review Committee.

-2015-2016 Member Arizona Supreme Court's Capital Case Commission Review Committee

Awards:

-2019 Arizona Attorney's for Criminal Justice Tom Karas Indigent Defense Award

-2023 AACJ John Flynn Lifetime Achievement Award

-2026 Arizona Public Defender's Association Lifetime Achievement Award.

Timeline

Capital Resource Counsel

Maricopa County Public Defender's Office
05.2015 - 06.2026Read More

Deputy Legal Defender

Maricopa County Legal Defender's Office
04.1998 - 05.2015Read More

Deputy County Attorney

Pinal County Attorney's Office
04.1989 - 05.1998Read More

Criminal Defense Attorney

Toles and Associates, P.C.
08.1985 - 04.1989Read More

Arizona State University

J.D. from Law
Read More

Oberlin College

Bachelor of Arts from Political Science And Government
Read More
John Canby