About John Kirby

John Kirby is the founding attorney of Kirby Criminal Law, a federal criminal defense practice based in San Diego, California. With over two decades of experience in federal courts nationwide, John Kirby has represented clients in some of the most complex federal criminal cases of the last twenty years.

As a former federal prosecutor, John Kirby brings unique insight into how federal investigations are built, how prosecutors think, and where their cases are vulnerable. That experience now serves clients facing federal charges across the full spectrum of criminal law — from white collar crime and RICO conspiracy to tax evasion, public corruption, and federal appeals.

John Kirby is licensed to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and has argued before multiple federal circuit courts. His practice focuses exclusively on federal criminal defense, giving clients the specialized representation that federal charges demand.

Bar Admissions

• Arizona State Bar
• California State Bar
• U.S. District Court, District of Arizona
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
• Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
• U.S. Supreme Court

Practice Areas

• Federal Criminal Defense
• Tax Evasion & IRS Criminal Investigations
• RICO & Complex Conspiracy
• White Collar Criminal Defense
• Federal Sentencing & Appeals
• Grand Jury Representation
• Public Corruption Defense
• Cryptocurrency & Cyber Crime Defense

Why Federal Experience Matters

Federal criminal cases are fundamentally different from state cases. The federal sentencing guidelines, the rules of federal criminal procedure, the investigative resources of federal agencies — these create a playing field that requires specialized knowledge. John Kirby has spent his entire career in the federal system, first as a prosecutor and now as a defense attorney. That focused experience means he knows the system from the inside.

When you or a loved one is facing a federal criminal investigation, the attorney you choose matters more than anything else. John Kirby's track record in federal court — from pretrial motions to jury trials to sentencing hearings to appeals — gives clients the advocacy they need at every stage of a federal case.