JOHN CHASE
I started my career with the Colorado Public Defender’s office. There I rose to the position of Senior Deputy Public defender and successfully defended clients at over 3 dozen jury trials, including charges of DUI, assault, felony theft, first degree murder, second-degree murder and complete acquittal on a self-defense murder case.
In 2021, I made the Pacific Northwest home. I joined the Snohomish County Public Defender Association (SCPDA) as a Class A qualified felony attorney and successfully defended all levels of felonies. My clients won dismissals and acquittals on charges including failure to register, felony assaults and second-degree rape. My clients also avoided first-degree murder convictions three different times.
In 2023, I started litigating Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (NGRI) cases, where clients are civilly committed after acquittal. This work has dramatic impacts on people's liberty and the societal costs that come with commitment. To learn more about this area of law, click on the NGRI Commitments under the Practice Tab.
After more than a decade as a public defender, 45 jury trials and hundreds of hearings with great success, I started Chase Law PLLC in 2025. Here I fight for my clients’ rights, stand up for constitutional principles and demand integrity and accountability from those in positions of power.
Education
University of Denver, Sturm College of Law - J.D. Constitutional Rights and Remedies Certificate, 2014
- Outstanding Student Lawyer, Criminal Defense Clinic 2014
- Research: See “Defense Attorney Resistance,” Robin Walker Sterling, 99 Iowa L. Rev. 2245 (2014).
- Full-Tuition and Merit-Based Scholarship
University of California, Davis - B.A. English, 2009
- Men’s Rowing
College of the Desert - A.A. English Literature, 2007
- Men’s Golf
Public and Indigent Defense
John serves the mission of public defense and represents civilly committed NGRI patients through appointment from the Washington State Office of Public Defense. He also serves as a panel attorney representing indigent defendants in federal court under the Criminal Justice Act.
Memberships and Affiliations
Disclaimer
Selective Case Acceptance Policy
An inquiry does not result in representation. I maintain a deliberately selective practice. Contacting my office does not create an attorney-client relationship or guarantee case acceptance. If you are represented by a public defender, you are in good hands.