Chris Phillis

Director

Maricopa County Office of Public Defense Services

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Chris Phillis grew up in Arizona and graduated from the California Western School of Law in 1993. Her career in public service began upon graduation, when she accepted a position with the Maricopa County Office of the Public Defender, beginning her legal career representing youth in delinquency matters.  Ms. Phillis worked as a deputy public defender for the next fifteen years.  She left the Public Defender’s Office to become the director of the Maricopa County Public Advocate’s Office.  She headed the office until September of 2016, when she was selected as the director of the Public Defense Services constellation of Maricopa County.

Ms. Phillis has dedicated her career to the representation of indigent individuals who face loss of liberty or constitutional rights. In addition directly representing clients, she is the co-director for the Southwest Region of the National Juvenile Defender Center and she has has served on committees which promote policy change and community outreach.  Ms. Phillis continues to serve the legal community by providing attorney training seminars and sitting on numerous advisory boards.