Anne Kathryn Woods (Annie) is an attorney licensed in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribal Court, and the U.S. District Court of New Mexico. A lifelong public servant, I have built my career at the intersection of law, community advocacy, and access to justice.

Originally from Dublin, Ohio, I have spent my adult life in the American West, dedicating my work to underserved communities. I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, summa cum laude, from Arizona State University in 2009, and began my career as an AmeriCorps VISTA member in Scottsdale, Arizona, advocating for adults with developmental disabilities. Inspired by my parents—both lawyers—and my early nonprofit work, I pursued a law degree at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, where I received a full-tuition Chancellor Scholarship for my commitment to public interest law and academic excellence.

After passing the Colorado bar in 2015, I served as a public defender in Durango and Cortez, Colorado, representing clients in towns near tribal lands. This experience deepened my passion for the Four Corners region. As a dedicated public defender, I handled cases ranging from misdemeanor DUIs and domestic violence cases to homicides, and tried countless cases before Colorado juries. I also won a victory for due process and constitutional rights before the Colorado Supreme Court in People v. Kilgore, a now seminal Colorado criminal law case. In 2020, during the height of the COVID‑19 pandemic and calls for criminal justice reform, I was appointed by the Governor of Colorado as La Plata County’s sole county court judge. At age 33, I presided over one of the state’s largest county court caseloads, managing criminal, civil, and domestic violence matters. My two years on the bench were marked by both intense challenges and invaluable lessons in leadership, impartiality, and resilience.

In April 2023, I joined DNA–People’s Legal Services, the nation’s largest and oldest tribal legal aid organization, as a staff attorney, earning promotion to senior attorney in January 2024. In that role, I directed DNA’s New Mexico advocacy, managed grants, and litigated complex civil and tribal cases. I also led community education initiatives, built partnerships, and became passionate about Navajo Nation’s restorative justice principles.

I am proud to have returned to my roots as an activist, where I truly belong—working alongside communities to dismantle barriers to justice. My career reflects a steadfast commitment to ethical practice, cultural respect, and the belief that the law should serve everyone, especially those most often overlooked.

I live in Durango, Colorado with my husband, who is also a passionate public interest lawyer, our baby daughter, and our two dogs.

awoods@fourcornersforjustice.com

(970) 426-0444