# John F. Walsh

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American attorney

John F. Walsh District Attorney of Denver Incumbent Assumed office January 14, 2025 Preceded by Beth McCann United States Attorney for the District of Colorado In office August 16, 2010 – August 10, 2016 President Barack Obama Preceded by David Gaouette (acting) Succeeded by Robert Troyer Personal details Born (1961-05-28) May 28, 1961 (age 65)[1] New York City, U.S. Party Democratic Education Williams College (BA) Stanford University (JD)

**John F. Walsh** (born May 28, 1961) is an American attorney who served as the [United States Attorney for the District of Colorado](/source/United_States_District_Court_for_the_District_of_Colorado) from 2010 to 2016.[2] Walsh was nominated by [President Barack Obama](/source/Barack_Obama) on April 14, 2010, and sworn in on August 16, 2010.[3] When he stepped down in 2016, Walsh was the longest-serving U.S. attorney in Colorado history.[4]

## Education

Walsh attended [Cherry Creek High School](/source/Cherry_Creek_High_School), a public high school in the Cherry Creek School District.[5] He attended [Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute](/source/Rensselaer_Polytechnic_Institute) for one year before transferring to [Williams College](/source/Williams_College), where he graduated *[magna cum laude](/source/Magna_cum_laude)* and [Phi Beta Kappa](/source/Phi_Beta_Kappa) with a B.A. degree in [political science](/source/Political_science).[6]

Walsh graduated with a JD from [Stanford Law School](/source/Stanford_Law_School) in 1986. Walsh graduated [Order of the Coif](/source/Order_of_the_Coif) and with honors. He was the senior notes editor of the *[Stanford Law Review](/source/Stanford_Law_Review)* and president of the Stanford Public Interest Law Foundation.[6]

## Early career

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Walsh served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles,[5] where he headed the office’s major frauds section.[7] Walsh was involved in high-profile prosecutions of securities fraud,[8] investment schemes that targeted seniors,[9] and insurance fraud.[10] He was a member of the team that prosecuted [Charles Keating](/source/Charles_Keating) for his role in the [savings and loan crisis](/source/Savings_and_loan_crisis).[11]

Walsh led the federal investigation that resulted in the indictment and resignation of Governor [Fife Symington](/source/Fife_Symington) of Arizona.[12]

Walsh helped prosecute Norwalk Assemblyman Bruce E. Young,[13] who was sentenced to eighteen months in prison in what the *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)* called “one of the few successful political corruption prosecutions ever mounted against a California legislator.”[14]

In 2004, Walsh ran for Denver District Attorney. The Denver Post endorsed Walsh, arguing that his “excellent combination of outlook, experience and skills” made him the best choice for the job.[11]

## United States Attorney

### Appointment

On April 14, 2010, Walsh was nominated by President Barack Obama to serve as [United States Attorney](/source/United_States_Attorney) for the District of Colorado. Walsh was unanimously confirmed by the [United States Senate](/source/United_States_Senate) on August 5, 2010, and was sworn in on August 16, 2010.[3] Attorney General [Eric Holder](/source/Eric_Holder) attended Walsh’s formal investiture on January 12, 2011 in [Denver](/source/Denver).[15]

### Record

Walsh pursued legal action against [Citibank](/source/Citibank) for misconduct that contributed to the [Great Recession](/source/Great_Recession). His office won $4 billion dollars in fines and $2.5 billion in consumer relief.[16] The $7 billion resolution was the largest settlement in the history of the Colorado U.S. Attorney’s office.[17]

Walsh co-chaired the Department of Justice’s Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities Working Group, a team of 55 attorneys, agents and analysts tasked with seeking criminal charges against individuals who committed mortgage fraud and contributed to the financial crisis.[18]

Walsh prosecuted the pharmaceutical company [GlaxoSmithKline](/source/GlaxoSmithKline) (GSK) for misconduct in the marketing of its products.[19] GSK pled guilty and paid a $3 billion penalty, the largest health care fraud fine in history.[20]

### Resignation

Walsh stepped down as U.S. Attorney on July 29, 2016. Upon his resignation, the Department of Justice praised Walsh for concluding “the largest federal penalty cases in Colorado’s history, collecting literally billions of dollars on behalf of American taxpayers and the United States Treasury.”[17]

## Private practice

On January 9, 2017, Walsh joined the law firm [WilmerHale](/source/Wilmer_Cutler_Pickering_Hale_and_Dorr) as a partner in their Denver Office.[6]

In early 2019, the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network announced that Walsh and a team of WilmerHale attorneys will be honored with the Network's 2019 Pro Bono Service Award.[21] Walsh’s team represented immigrant parents and relatives detained and separated from their children under the Trump administration's [family separation policy](/source/Trump_administration_family_separation_policy).[6]

## Return to politics

Campaigning for Denver DA in 2024

On March 18, 2019, Walsh stepped down from his job at WilmerHale to run for the United States Senate seat then held by Republican [Cory Gardner](/source/Cory_Gardner). Walsh dropped out of the race after former Colorado Governor [John Hickenlooper](/source/John_Hickenlooper) announced his candidacy for the seat.[22]

In 2024, Walsh announced his candidacy for [Denver District Attorney](/source/Denver_District_Attorney's_Office). He won the Democratic Party primary on June 25th, making him the presumptive winner in the November general election, as he faces no significant opposition.[23]

## Personal life

Walsh lives in Denver with his wife, Lisa.[5]

Walsh serves on the board of directors of Invest in Kids, a Colorado nonprofit focused on early childhood education and health.[24] He has previously served on the boards of directors of the Colorado Lawyers Committee, the Faculty of Federal Advocates, the Leadership Denver Alumni Association, and the United States-Mexico Law Institute.[6]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Candidate Conversation - John Walsh (D)"](https://www.insideelections.com/news/article/candidate-conversation-john-walsh-d).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Meet the U.S. Attorney"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160115085518/http://www.justice.gov/usao-co/meet-us-attorney). Justice.gov. Archived from the original on January 15, 2016. Retrieved June 14, 2017.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_bot:_original_URL_status_unknown))

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:5_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:5_3-1) Office (USAO), U. S. Attorney's. ["U.S. Attorney's Office - U.S. Department of Justice"](https://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/co/news/2010/August10/8_16_10.html). *www.justice.gov*. Retrieved April 10, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Mitchell, Kirk (July 29, 2016). ["U.S. Attorney John Walsh to step down, return to private practice"](http://www.denverpost.com/2016/07/29/us-attorney-john-walsh-steps-down/). Denverpost.com. Retrieved June 14, 2017.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_5-2) Post, Felisa Cardona | The Denver (October 8, 2010). ["New U.S. attorney John Walsh to target economic crimes, terrorism"](https://www.denverpost.com/2010/10/08/new-u-s-attorney-john-walsh-to-target-economic-crimes-terrorism/). *The Denver Post*. Retrieved April 10, 2019.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:1_6-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:1_6-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-:1_6-4) ["Former US Attorney John Walsh Joins WilmerHale"](https://www.wilmerhale.com/en/insights/news/2017-01-09-former-us-attorney-john-walsh-joins-wilmerhale). *www.wilmerhale.com*. Retrieved April 10, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:2_7-0)** Politics, Ernest Luning, Colorado. ["Ex-U.S. Attorney Walsh steps down from law firm to mull run against Gardner"](https://www.coloradopolitics.com/hot-sheet/ex-u-s-attorney-walsh-steps-down-from-law-firm/article_41cec424-49d7-11e9-8269-071bac79c903.html). *Colorado Politics*. Retrieved April 10, 2019.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_multiple_names:_authors_list))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Magna Promoter Sought : Indictment: Jacob Rubenstein is one of four men charged with manipulating stock of defunct Thousand Oaks company"](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-04-03-fi-519-story.html). *Los Angeles Times*. April 3, 1990. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0458-3035](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0458-3035). Retrieved April 10, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding 3 of Savings : Crime: A former insurance broker stole more than $600,000 from three elderly people. He faces up to 30 years in prison"](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-07-10-me-277-story.html). *Los Angeles Times*. July 10, 1990. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0458-3035](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0458-3035). Retrieved April 10, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Game Show Winner Gets 5 Years for Insurance Scam"](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-05-03-me-1999-story.html). *Los Angeles Times*. May 3, 1988. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0458-3035](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0458-3035). Retrieved April 10, 2019.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:3_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:3_11-1) ["John Walsh for District Attorney"](http://hillandrobbins.com/pdf/Post_Walsh_July25.pdf) (PDF). *The Denver Post*. July 25, 2004. Retrieved April 10, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Dougherty, John (September 29, 1993). ["FEDS PROBE SYMINGTON FIRMA GRAND JURY INVESTIGATES THE GOVERNOR'S DEVELOPMENT COMPANY AND ITS NUMEROUS FAILED REAL ESTATE DEALS"](https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/feds-probe-symington-firma-grand-jury-investigates-the-governors-development-company-and-its-numerous-failed-real-estate-deals-6426254). *Phoenix New Times*. Retrieved April 10, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Attorneys for Young Told Not to Make Trial a Circus"](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-01-14-me-3187-story.html). *Los Angeles Times*. January 14, 1987. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0458-3035](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0458-3035). Retrieved April 10, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Young Gets 18-Month Prison Term : Former Assemblyman Also Fined $5,000; Displays Contrition"](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-03-31-me-1555-story.html). *Los Angeles Times*. March 31, 1987. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0458-3035](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0458-3035). Retrieved April 10, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Post, Felisa Cardona | The Denver (January 13, 2011). ["AG Holder flies in for U.S. Attorney Walsh's oath"](https://www.denverpost.com/2011/01/13/ag-holder-flies-in-for-u-s-attorney-walshs-oath/). *The Denver Post*. Retrieved April 10, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Adams, Roger (July 16, 2014). ["Bringing CitiBank to Justice"](https://www.aspenpublicradio.org/post/bringing-citibank-justice). *www.aspenpublicradio.org*. Retrieved April 10, 2019.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:4_17-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:4_17-1) ["Colorado United States Attorney John Walsh to Step Down Following Six Years of Service"](https://www.justice.gov/usao-co/pr/colorado-united-states-attorney-john-walsh-step-down-following-six-years-service). *www.justice.gov*. July 29, 2016. Retrieved April 10, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["New initiative will coordinate probes of mortgage meltdown"](https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm-2012-jan-27-la-fi-mortgage-working-group-20120127-story.html). *Los Angeles Times*. January 27, 2012. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0458-3035](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0458-3035). Retrieved April 10, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Post, Kevin C. Keller | The Denver (July 2, 2012). ["Colorado to receive $4.5 million in settlement with GlaxoSmithKline"](https://www.denverpost.com/2012/07/02/colorado-to-receive-4-5-million-in-settlement-with-glaxosmithkline-4/). *The Denver Post*. Retrieved April 10, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Carter, Monica (July 9, 2012). ["GlaxoSmithKline pays $3 billion in healthcare fraud settlement"](https://depauliaonline.com/8092/news/glaxosmithkline-pays-3-billion-in-healthcare-fraud-settlement/). *The DePaulia*. Retrieved April 10, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["Immigrant Liberty Awards"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190320212942/https://www.rmian.org/immigrant-liberty-awards). *RMIAN*. Archived from [the original](https://www.rmian.org/immigrant-liberty-awards) on March 20, 2019. Retrieved April 10, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** Wingerter, Justin (September 11, 2019). ["John Walsh drops out of U.S. Senate race, backs John Hickenlooper"](https://web.archive.org/web/20240410124041/https://www.denverpost.com/2019/09/11/john-walsh-colorado-senate-hickenlooper/). *The Denver Post*. Archived from [the original](https://www.denverpost.com/2019/09/11/john-walsh-colorado-senate-hickenlooper/) on April 10, 2024. Retrieved June 30, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** Erblat, Austen (June 26, 2024). ["John Walsh wins race for Denver District Attorney"](https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/john-walsh-wins-denver-district-attorney/). *CBS News Colordo*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240628080501/https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/john-walsh-wins-denver-district-attorney/) from the original on June 28, 2024. Retrieved June 30, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** ["Invest In Kids | Board"](https://www.iik.org/about-us/board/). *www.iik.org*. Retrieved April 10, 2019.

## External links

- [Denver DA Campaign website](https://www.walshfordenver.com/)

- [Appearances](https://www.c-span.org/person/?69810) on [C-SPAN](/source/C-SPAN)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [John F. Walsh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Walsh) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Walsh?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.