James A. Abate Esq. attorney profile

James A. Abate Esq.

James A. Abate is a founding partner at Aiello, Harris, Abate, Law Group PC. Mr. Abates practice is focused on Criminal Law, Domestic Violence, DWI, Complex Litigation, and Appellate practice.

Mr. Abates criminal experience is in the State and Federal systems. It includes the defense of sexual based crimes, drug crimes, and violent crimes, including a recent dismissal in an attempted murder case in Somerset County.  Mr. Abate has represented clients in both State and Federal Courts for allegations of the possession of Child Pornography,

Mr. Abate is a member of the Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey (ACDLNJ) and the National College for DWI Defense. Mr. Abate has served as the Legislative Chair for the New Jersey Bar Association Municipal Court Practice Section.

Mr. Abate recently moderated the “Emerging from The Pandemic” symposium at the New Jersey Bar Association Meetings, which featured a who is who of judges, prosecutors, and defense counsel.

Mr. Abate represents individuals from all walks of life, including Actors, Athletes, and Politicians. He successfully defended New York Giants cornerback Kamrin Moore, securing the dismissal of a Temporary Restraining Order and Criminal charges, paving his path for removal from the commissioner’s exempt list.

Mr. Abate’s reported cases include the seminal Domestic Violence case of R.G. v. R.G. and State v. Thompson, which redefined operation in DWI cases. Mr. Abate has been featured in various media outlets, including ESPN, Bleacher Report, CNN, The New York Post, NJ.com, and the blog Advocacy for Fairness in Sports. Mr. Abate was a candidate for New Jersey State Senate in the 2022 election.

Mr. Abate is rated by Super Lawyers Magazine as one of the preeminent criminal defense, DWI defense, and domestic violence litigation lawyers. He holds a rating of 10.0 from Avvo—the highest ranking possible—5.0 from FindLaw, and 4.5 from Google. You can learn more about Mr. Abate and his team from his over 100 reviews from prior clients.

Aiello, Harris, Abate, Law Group PC is a full-service law firm that handles cases in criminal law, employment law, personal injury, family law, workers compensation, and appellate practice.

Education

Brooklyn Law School, Brooklyn, New York

  • J.D. – 1999
  • Honors: cum laude
  • Honors: Markhoff Scholar
  • Honors: Trial Team, Semifinalist, 1998
  • Honors: Dean’s List
  • Honors: Cornelius T. Wickersham Award

Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, New York

  • B.F.A. – 1996
  • Honors: cum laude
  • Honors: With Honors

Bar Admissions

  • New York
  • New Jersey
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court District of New Jersey
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit

Professional Associations

  • Somerset County Bar Association
  • Union County Bar Association
  • New Jersey Bar Association
  • Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey
  • New York Bar Association
  • National Association of Subrogation Professionals
  • American Trial Lawyers Association
  • American Bar Association, Tort, Insurance, Business, Litigation, and Property Section

Current Employment Position

Past Positions

  • Eastern District of New York at the United States Attorney’s Office, Law Intern
  • United States District Judge David G. Trager

Certified Legal Specialties

  • Certified in the administration of the NHTSA Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs)
  • Certified in the administration of the NHTSA Drug Recognition Evaluations (DRE)
  • Certified Operator Alcotest 9510