ASU Law alum Quinton Gregory’s path to public service

You stand before the Arizona Supreme Court — all seven Justices focused on you, waiting to hear your argument and ready to ask questions. You’ve done all the work to prepare for this moment, putting in countless hours of research and writing, but you have just 20 minutes to make your case to the highest court in the state. This is a moment that demands great precision, preparation and care.

For Quinton Gregory (JD ‘18), deputy county attorney in the appeals bureau of Maricopa County, this is a familiar position. But before he argued cases before the Arizona Supreme Court, he was a student at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. From his days as a law student to now, Gregory’s story is shaped by a commitment to community and a love for reading, writing and critical thinking.

Gregory grew up in Fort Worth, Texas and attended college at Texas Christian University for his undergraduate studies. Pursuing degrees in English and philosophy with a minor in German, he first thought he wanted to pursue a career in journalism. But as he thought more about what he enjoyed most — reading, writing and engaging in thoughtful debate — law school seemed like a natural fit.

After deciding on law school, Gregory chose ASU Law because of the beautiful weather and the new environment in Arizona. An equally important factor in his decision was the strong employment and bar passage outcomes that ASU Law provided to its students, which is currently 95% of graduates employed and a 92% first-time bar passage rate, above the national average.

“I remember thinking the most important statistic to me was the postgraduate job statistics, in terms of the percentage of graduates who passed the bar and were employed within a year of graduating,” he said. Gregory noted the percentage was higher than other law schools he was considering.

Starting law school, Gregory knew two things — he didn't want to do anything with criminal law and he never wanted to be in a courtroom. Throughout his time as a law student, both of those things changed. In his second year of law school, Gregory became involved in appellate advocacy through moot court, competing in the National Appellate Advocacy Competition (NAAC). In this competition, students receive a mock case that has worked its way up to the United States Supreme Court. Students pick a side and then write a brief for it. Gregory travelled to Washington, D.C. to participate in a mock U.S. Supreme Court argument in a real federal courthouse. This experience was pivotal in his career, sparking interest in his current work.

During his time as a student, he also found an appreciation for the craft of legal writing, viewing it as more than formal assignments.

“When you write appellate briefs, you want to be as concise as possible and accurate, obviously, and inform the court of what the law is, but there's a creativity involved,” Gregory said.

After graduating from ASU Law in 2018, Gregory’s first job was at the Arizona Court of Appeals as a clerk for Judge Winthrop (retired) and Judge Cruz, now Justice Cruz. During his clerkship, he explored the ins and outs of public service, gaining insight into the court’s perspective and how the appeals process works.

After his clerkship, Gregory spent a short time in private practice, but realized it wasn’t the right fit. Reflecting on his earlier experiences in the NAAC and at the Court of Appeals, he felt drawn back to public service and the work he enjoyed most. It was then that Gregory started his current role with the appeals bureau at Maricopa County. His work centers on reviewing trial court decisions, researching and writing appellate briefs.

“I kind of joke that my job is like being a student who gets a paycheck,” Gregory said. “It’s a lot of writing and deadlines, and occasionally I have to go explain my work.” This explanation takes place before the Court of Appeals and the Arizona Supreme Court, where Gregory has found himself a handful of times. Through this work, Gregory has a direct impact on the community.

“I think public service jobs are important because in a lot of ways they shape the community that we're in,” he said. “It’s fulfilling to know that when you go to work every day, you are doing something that's helping shape the community and helping make it a better place.”

Each time Gregory steps before the bench or writes a brief, he not only carries the weight of each case, but also the responsibility of contributing to lives far beyond that courtroom. What began as an interest in writing and debate has evolved into meaningful work that shapes communities and ensures justice and safety.

While he started out wanting to avoid criminal law and the courtroom, those two things are now the foundation of his career. Gregory’s journey reflects the advice he would give to current law students: “Keep an open mind because your views will change with what your experiences are.”