Born in Long Beach, California, Crosby graduated from Wilson High School before receiving an Bachelor of Arts from Stanford University in 1962, an Bachelor of Laws from University of California Berkeley School of Law in 1965, and an Master of Laws from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1988.
He acted as Associate Justice of the California Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division Three, having been appointed to the post by Jerry Brown as Governor in 1982. Crosby worked for the National Labor Relations Board from 1965 to 1967, the Peace Corps in Peru from 1967 to 1969, and the Orange County District Attorney"s office from 1969 to 1973. From 1973 to 1981, he worked in his own law firm.
Governor Jerry Brown appointed Crosby to the Orange County Superior Court in 1981.
Thirteen months later, Brown moved Crosby to the newly created Division Three of the Fourth District Court of Appeal in December 1982.
