John Paul Velez is a Partner of Arbore Velez, LLC and has been practicing law for more than 16 years. He joined Forster & Arbore as an associate after over four years of serving as an Assistant Deputy Public Defender for the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender. He became Partner of Forster Arbore Velez after practicing with Forster & Arbore for 6 years. While with the Office of the Public Defender, Mr. Velez represented adults and children charged with crimes at the Superior Court level from the first appearance through final disposition. Mr. Velez effectively handled hundreds of criminal cases ranging from minor criminal mischief allegations to defending people charged in complex murder cases and was responsible for all aspects of criminal motion practice from pre-indictment, through jury trial and post-disposition filings and arguments.
Prior to becoming an Assistant Deputy Public Defender, Mr. Velez clerked for the Honorable Marilyn C. Clark, P.J. Cr., who was the presiding criminal judge in the Passaic Vicinage. Mr. Velez was certified as a Mediator in the State of New Jersey during his clerkship.
Mr. Velez graduated summa cum laude and as a member of the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society from Montclair State University with a Bachelor of Arts in History with a Political Science minor.
Mr. Velez received his juris doctorate from Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C., where he worked as a student-attorney with the Howard University Criminal Justice Clinic and as a research assistant to Professor Adam Kurland concentrating in federal criminal law issues. He graduated as a Merit Fellows Scholarship recipient.
Mr. Velez is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association, New Jersey Hispanic Bar Association, Morris County Bar Association and the Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey. He is completely bilingual in English and Spanish.
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Practice Areas
22 years
22 years
22 years
Sometimes
State: New Jersey
Acquired: 2004
No misconduct found
Fax
123 US Highway 46, Ste. 1A, Netcong, NJ, 07857
arborevelez.com/
47 Client Reviews
Showing 6 - 10 of 20 reviews | Criminal Defense
Posted by D | October 01, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense
A true empathetic champion of lawyers
John handled my criminal case where I had a 1st degree case with heavy evidence built against me but still managed to get it downgraded to a 3rd degree. My case was extremely difficult considering I had been a repeat offender and the county sheriff department hated me. Initially the prosecutor wanted...
Posted by Michael | July 25, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense
Delivered in the clutch
John Paul Velez is the main reason I'm home typing this review instead of being locked up. I was facing jail for repeat offenses of the same misdemeanor. There were several low cost attorneys talking about bringing my case to trial. That would've been legal suicide! Enter John Paul Velez, the game ch...
Posted by Joe | April 06, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense
Awesome
John was recommended by a assistant prosecutor. John was very professional. I understood what the best case/ worst case was from the first meeting. John was able to resolve the matter - he did a great job.
Posted by anonymous | March 15, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense
Excellent Criminal Lawyer - and all around nice guy!
I came to John to handle a 3rd degree criminal matter for my special needs son that had me very worried. I had retained another attorney previously and the matter was just dragging on. Once I met John I had no doubt that he would take care of my son and everything would be okay. He was very easy to t...
Posted by anonymous | July 03, 2017 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense
Best possible outcome
I was facing felony drug possession charges as well as a number of traffic tickets and marajuana possession charges from the same arrest. Mr. Valez got my case remanded from superior to municipal court immediately, which took care of the felony charges. I should have lost my driving privileges in N...
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2025
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2024
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2023
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2022
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2021
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2020
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2019
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2018
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2017
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2016
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2015
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2014
Rising Star, Super Lawyers
2013
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2012
Rising Star, Super Lawyers
2011
Rising Star, Super Lawyers
2010 - Present
Partner, Forster Arbore Velez, Attorneys at Law
2005 - 2010
Assistant Deputy Public Defender, New Jersey Office Of The Public Defender
2004 - 2005
Judicial Law Clerk, Superior Court of New Jersey Passaic
2003 - 2004
Student - Attorney, Howard University School Of Law
2002 - 2003
Legal Intern, Office Of The New Jersey Attorney General
2002 - 2004
Research Assistant, Howard University School Of Law
2012 - Present
Morris County Bar AssociationMember
2010 - Present
New Jersey Association of Criminal Defense LawyersMember
2004 - Present
New Jersey State Bar AssociationMember
Member
2004
JD - Juris Doctor
2000
BA - Bachelor of Arts
2016
Assault by Auto
2015
Municipal Court & Criminal Practice Update 2015: Hot Tips
English
Spanish