Public Defender's Office Leadership

David E. Ward is the Director of the City of Phoenix Public Defenders Office. David earned a B.A. in Philosophy from Arizona State University in 1993 and his J.D. in 1996, also from Arizona State University.  He is admitted to practice in Arizona, ​federal court within the State of Arizona, and the United States Court of Appeals 9th Circuit.  David joined the City of Phoenix Public Defender's Office in 2019 and accepted his position as Director​ in 2020, where he oversees approximately 72 contract attorneys who provide representation to indigent defendants charged in the Phoenix Municipal Court.  Besides Phoenix, David​ has worked for numerous other cities throughout Arizona, including Apache Junction, Duncan, Jerome, Peoria, Quartzsite, and Surprise.​​

Ted J. Crews is the Assistant Director of the City of Phoenix Public Defenders Office. Ted earned a B.S. in General Business from Arizona State University in 1991 and his J.D. in 1997, from Hamline University School of Law.  He is admitted to practice in Arizona, ​federal court within the State of Arizona, and the United States Court of Appeals 9th Circuit.  Ted joined the City of Phoenix Public Defender's Office in 2021, where he oversees approximately 72 contract attorneys who provide representation to indigent defendants charged in the Phoenix Municipal Court. Ted began his career at the Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office and then spent over 20 years in private criminal defense practice.