James Abate
Top rated Criminal Defense attorney in Watchung, New Jersey
Aiello Harris Abate Law Group, PC
Practice areas: Criminal Defense, DUI-DWI, Family Law; view more
Licensed in New Jersey since: 2002
Education: Brooklyn Law School
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2020 - 2026 No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. Please visit the Super Lawyers Selection Process for a detailed description of the Super Lawyers selection methodology.
Call today:
908-540-6361
Free Consultation Aiello Harris Abate Law Group, PC
501 Watchung AvenueWatchung, NJ 07069 Visit website
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 is certified on the Alcotest 9510 and is part of the State Bar advocacy team litigating the admissibility of this machine before the New Jersey Supreme Court. 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, 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.
In recognition for his exemplary professionalism and unwavering commitment to his clients, Mr. Abate has earned top rankings from his peers along with a Best of New Jersey designation from The Italian Voice. He has also received "Superb" client ratings on Avvo as well as the site's Clients' Choice Award for several years. Additionally, his law firm has enjoyed numerous testimonials and referrals from those he has successfully served.
After graduating from Brooklyn College in 1996, Mr. Abate attended Brooklyn Law School, where he obtained his Juris Doctor cum laude in 1999. A Dean's List and Markhoff scholar during his time in law school, he received awards in Legal Writing, Constitutional Law, Civil Procedure and Trial Advocacy. His Mock Trial Team placed in the semifinals in 1998, and Mr. Abate also received the Cornelius T. Wickersham award for his outstanding academic achievements.
Licensed to practice in New York and New Jersey, Mr. Abate is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey and the Northern, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd and 3rd Circuits.
He is also a member of several local, state and national legal organizations, including the Somerset and Union County Bar Associations, the Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey, The National Association of Subrogation Professionals, and the American Bar Association's Tort, Insurance, Business, Litigation and Property Sections, among his other professional affiliations.
Practice areas
Criminal Defense, Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI, Family LawFocus areas
Assault & Battery, Criminal Domestic Violence, Criminal Fraud, Criminal Law, DUI/DWI, Domestic Violence, Drug & Alcohol Violations, Expungement, Felony, Juvenile Delinquency, Misdemeanor, Motor Vehicle Offenses, Murder, Sex Offenses, Traffic Violations
- 50% Criminal Defense
- 30% Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI
- 20% Family Law
First Admitted: 2000, New York
Professional Webpage: https://aielloharris.com/attorneys/james-a-abate-esq/
Bar / Professional Activity
- National Association of Subrogation Professionals
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 3rd Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit
- U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
- New York
- American Trial Lawyers Association
- New Jersey
- American Bar Association, Tort, Insurance, Business, Litigation and Property Sections
- American Bar Association
- National Association of Subrogation Professionals
- Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey, Somerset County Bar Association- Criminal/ Municipal Practice and DWI Committee New Jersey Bar Association- Municipal Court and DWI Practice Committee, 2005
- New York Bar Association
- New Jersey Bar Association
- Union County Bar Association
- Somerset County Bar Association
- Elected Jr. Legislative Chair, N.J. State Bar Association, Municipal Court Practice Section, 2019
- James Abate has been granted admission to the National College of DUI Defense. The National College for DUI Defense, Inc. (NCDD) is a professional, non-profit corporation dedicated to the improvement of the criminal defense bar, and to the dissemination of information to the public about DUI Defense Law as a specialty area of law practice. College members represent the most experienced DUI defense attorneys in the country. The original Founding Members funded the establishment of the college, and are among the top DUI practitioners in the United States. Since its founding, the College continues to recognize, as Sustaining Members, defense lawyers who have demonstrated the skill and experience of the original Founding Members, as well as the generosity to financially sustain the growth of the NCDD. General Members are the backbone of the college—capable, experienced attorneys who dedicate a portion of their practice to the defense of DUI cases throughout the country. When the National College for DUI Defense was founded, the Board of Regents envisioned a Board Certification program as the culmination of its program of education. In 1999, the Board instituted Board Certification as a means of recognizing lawyers within the college who exemplify the program’s standards, and who meet the criteria established by the Board of Regents: extensive experience trying DUI cases and litigating pre-trial issues, a broad knowledge of the science involved in testing for intoxicants, and a command of the legal process on which DUI cases are framed, 2015
- Elected as member of Board of Directors to Municipal Court Practice Committee to State Bar Association. This committee reviews pending legislation that effects the municipal courts, where disorderly persons offenses, aka misdemeanor and DWI offenses, 2016
Videos
- Review of James A. Abate
Special Licenses / Certifications
- Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) Attorney Certification, 2018
- Certified on Alcotest 9510, 2025
- Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (NHTSA) Drug Recognition Expert (NHTSA), 2017
Pro bono / Community Service
- Judge in the Vincent J. Apruzze moot court tournament in the Somerset county rounds., 2014
- Moderator, Emerging From The Pandemic, Bench Bar Panel at State Bar Association Meetings, 2024, 2024
Honors
- Deans List, Brooklyn Law School, 1997
- Certified in the administration of the NHTSA Drug Recognition Evaluations
- Certified in the administration of the NHTSA Standardized Field Sobriety Tests
- Semifinalist, Trial Team, Brooklyn Law School, 1998
- ATLA Trial Team- Regional Semifinalist, 1999
- Graduation awarded for outstanding contributions to trial advocacy, Cornelius T. Wickersham award, Brooklyn Law School, 1999
- Markhoff Scholar, Brooklyn Law School, 1997
- Awards for outstanding student in Law School Class, Constitutional Law, Legal Writing, Civil Procedure and Trial Advocacy, West Publishing Awards, Brooklyn Law School, 1997
Educational Background
- B.F.A., Brooklyn College, 1996
Other Outstanding Achievements
- Clients Choice Award, Avvo, 2013
- Best of New Jersey, The Italian Voice, 2014
- National College For DWI Defense; New Jersey Association Of Criminal Defense Lawyers; Somerset Bar A
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2020 - 2026
