In 1441, he appeared in a case before the privy council, and, in 1443, was made serjeant-at-law, being promoted king's serjeant soon afterwards.
Being apparently of Yorkist sympathies, he was on 11 May 1461, immediately after the accession of Edward IV, appointed chief justice of common pleas.
When Henry VI regained his throne Danby was, by patent dated 9 October 1470, continued as chief justice, but when Edward IV returned in the following year Danby ceased to be chief justice.
As he disappears from the list of judges three weeks before the others were removed, the circumstance may be due to his death, and not to his disgrace.
His great-grandson, Sir Christopher Danby, was, according to Paget, designed for a peerage by Henry VIII, but the intention was never carried out.