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also known as Nick DeMartino
Nick is a lifelong resident of Syracuse, and of the City’s “Northside.” A graduate of Henninger High School, Nick holds a Bachelor of Science Degree (summa cum laude) in Political Science from Brockport State University, in Brockport, New York, and a Juris Doctor Degree from Western New England College, School of Law, in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Nick began his legal career in 1986 by serving as a Deputy County Attorney with the Onondaga County Department of Law, where he prosecuted child abuse and neglect cases. He then went on to serve for 15 years as an Assistant District Attorney with the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office. During his tenure as an Assistant District Attorney, Nick prosecuted general felony cases, violent felony and career criminal cases, as well as narcotics cases. He served in the the Homicide Bureau for 11 years and also served as Chief of the White Collar Bureau. While in the Homicide Bureau, Nick investiagted and prosecuted over 100 murder and death penalty - eligible cases.
As an A.D.A., Nick’s administrative duties included serving as Supervisor of Project P.R.O.U.D., the District Attorney’s felony drug diversion program, Supervisor of Project Safe Schools, and was the District Attorney’s liaison to both the Neighborhood Watch Groups of Syracuse and Neighborhood Watch of Central New York.
Nick left the District Attorney’s Office in 2004 as a Chief Assistant assigned to the Homicide Bureau.
In 2001, Nick served as a Syracuse City Court Judge, during which time, among his other duties, he initiated and presided over Syracuse Community Court.
In 2004 he joined the Syracuse law firm of Costello, Cooney & Fearon as Special Counsel, where he specialized in Family Law, Criminal Defense and Insurance Defense.
Nick served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Cazenovia College, in Cazenovia, New York for 20 years, where he taught Business Law, Sports Law and Legal and Business Ethics. He also frequently serves as a guest lecturer at Syracuse University and at the Syracuse University School of Law.
In 2007, Nick resumed his work as a prosecutor when he joined the New York State Attorney General’s Office, Criminal Prosecutions Bureau. As an A.A.G., Nick coverd an approximate seven county Central New York Region and concentrated primarily on the investigation and prosecution of white collar, financial and environmental crimes.
In 2015, Nick left the Attorney General's Office and joined the firm of Green & Brenneck, in Syracuse, where he specializes in all aspects of criminal defense, including homicides, major felonies, white collar, DWI and Vehicle and Traffic matters. Nick practices in all counties in New York and is admitted to practice in United States Federal Court, Northern District of New York.
In July, 2018, Nick opened his own Criminal Defense law firm in Syracuse. His practice includes all aspects of criminal defense, ranging from simple traffic tickets to homicides.
Nick currently serves on the New York State Bar Association, Criminal Justice Section Executive Committee and served as the Committee's representative to the New York State Bar House of Delegates. He also serves as the Chairperson of the Criminal Justice Section's Continuing Legal Education Committee.
In addition, he serves as Chairperson of the Criminal Law Section, Membership Committee and Animals and the Law Committee of the Onondaga County Bar Association. He is also the Director of the O.C.B.A.'s Volunteer Advocate Lawyer in Animal Abuse Court (V.A.L.A.C.) Program. In 2014, Nick served as the President of the Onondaga County Bar Association.
In December, 2016, Nick received the American Red Cross of Central New York's "Real Heroes Award" for his work with the V.A.L.A.C. Program.
Nick’s community activities include serving as President of The Friends of Schiller Park and serves on the Board of Directors of the Central New York Animal Abuse Task Force and P.E.A.C.E., Inc., He has served as Chairperson of The Columbus Day Parade Through Little Italy, and has coached soccer at the Eastwood Soccer League, and basketball at Our Lady of Pompei School, in Syracuse. Nick has also served as the host of the radio show “Music D’Italia.”
Nick is the proud father of his daughter Elizabeth, a Senior at Oswego State University, son Joe, an engineer for SONY in Troy, Michigan and three rescue Pit Bulls, Domino, Tyra and Aphrodite.
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Chat withState: New York
Acquired: 1986
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120 East Washington Street, Suite 631, Syracuse, NY, 13202
21 Client Reviews
Showing 1 - 5 of 21 reviews
Posted by anonymous | January 09, 2025 | Criminal Defense
Would not be honest that he didn’t want to take my case
I was recommended this lawyer and tried to reach out to him daily for two weeks, I rationalized it by being the holidays and whatnot. Eventually I realized that he had been seeing my communications the entire time but just didn’t want to respond because he didn’t want to take my case likely because h...
Posted by William | May 09, 2024 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense
Excellent attorney
This guy is the real deal. He's the best criminal defense lawyer in upstate NY. Many times I walked out of court when my po wanted me in jail. Nick still got me out.he turns felonies into misdermeanors. People have to understand as well that sometimes it's not if your going to jail, it's how long. He...
Posted by Martin | March 11, 2022 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense
Trustworthy and masterful
There are not enough superlatives to describe Nicholas J. Demartino. Nick is a master of his craft. He understands the system from every angle and is able to focus in on what needs to be done to bring victory. At a time when it was easy to lose faith in the system entirely, Nick went abov...
Posted by John C. | October 26, 2021 | Hired Attorney
There aren’t enough great words!
Nick DeMartino has been my atty over the last several months and has helped me immeasurably. First and foremost, he has been readily available whenever I have called him. He has always been calm, supportive, and responds with sound advice. He is extremely knowledgeable and experienced in the legal sy...
Posted by N.J. | September 17, 2021 | Hired Attorney | DUI & DWI
Fantastic!
I could not be more pleased Nick as the counsel for my DWI case. From the moment I walked in his office door I felt respected and heard- never judged. He offered a concrete course of action and was able to waylay my fears. He seems to be highly respected by the judge and was able to achieve our desir...
"Nick is one of the very best lawyers in New York State. His practice is 100% dedicated to helping those accused of crimes. He is the hardest worker I know. He has experience that is almost unmatched because he has been a homicide prosecutor, a judge and a defense lawyer. If a member of my family was facing very serious criminal charges....I would tell them to call Nick."
"I strongly endorse Nick DeMartino. I have known Nick for eight years, both in his capacity as a prosecutor and a defense attorney. Nick is a highly skilled, knowledgeable attorney who always puts his clients' interests first. He is well-respected amongst judges, prosecutors and fellow attorneys in the local legal community. I do not hesitate to recommend and endorse Nick DeMartino."
"Nick is an excellent criminal defense attorney with unparalleled state court criminal trial experience. He is bright, knowledgeable and an extremely effective advocate. I highly recommend Nick for your state court criminal defense matters."
Criminal defense lawyer
2017
Award for Creation of the Volunteer Animal Advocate Program, Cuse Pit Crew
2017
AV Preeminent Attorney, Martindale-Hubbell
2016
Real Heroes Award - Animal Rescue, American Red Cross of Central New York
2015
Certificate of Appreciation, State of New York Office of the Attorney General
2002
The Rev. Lawrence Briggs Memorial Major Award, The Syracuse Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance
2001
"Making a Difference", The M.I.S.T.E.R. Program
1988
Dedicated Service, Onondaga County Law Department
2018 - 2018
Criminal Defense Attorney, Law Office of Nicholas J. DeMartino
2015 - 2018
Attorney at Law, Green & Brenneck
2007 - 2015
Assistant Attorney General, New York State Attorney General's Office
2004 - 2007
Special Counsel, Costello, Cooney & Fearon
2001 - 2001
Syracuse City Court Judge, State of New York
1988 - 2004
Chief Assistant District Attorney, Onondaga County District Attorney's Office
1986 - 1988
Deputy County Attorney, Onondaga County Department of Law
2014 - Present
Volunteer Advocate Lawyer for Animal Abuse CourtDirector
2014 - Present
CNY Animal Cruelty Task ForceMember
2010 - Present
Onondaga County Bar AssociationMembership Chairperson
2009 - Present
Onondaga County Bar AssociationCriminal Law Section Chairperson
2009 - Present
Friends of Schiller Park, Syracuse NYPresident
2009 - Present
New York State Bar Association Executive CommitteeCriminal Law Section 5th District Delegate
2009 - Present
Onondaga County Bar AssociationBoard of Directors
2014 - 2014
Onondaga County Bar AssociationPresident
2013 - 2013
Onondaga County Bar AssociationPresident-Elect
2012 - 2016
New York State Bar Association Executive CommitteeCriminal Law Section Representative to the House of Delegates
2012 - 2012
Onondaga County Bar AssociationVice President
2011 - 2011
Onondaga County Bar AssociationSecretary
2010 - 2010
Onondaga County Bar AssociationAt-Large Member Executive Committee
2009 - 2017
Onondaga County Bar AssociationTalk to a Lawyer Clinic
2008 - 2009
Cathedral Academy at Pompei SchoolGirl's Basketball Coach
2005 - 2006
Onondaga County Assigned Counsel ProgramBoard of Directors
2004 - 2011
Eastwood SoccerCoach
2004 - 2007
Northside Walk of Honor Committee
2003 - 2007
Columbus Day Parade Through Little Italy CommitteeChairperson
2002 - 2012
Neighborhood Watch Groups of SyracuseBoard of Directors
Successful jury verdict
Victory for Nick's client.
1989
Career Prosecutor Course
1983
Juris Doctor
1979
Bachelor of Science
2017
Evidence - Foundations and Objections
2017
Zealously Representing Your Client While Maintaining Your Civility
2017
Volunteer Advocate Lawyer for Animal Abuse Court Process and Procedure
2015
2015
2014
Evidence, Foundations, and Objections
2014
Breaking Bad: Lawyer's Edition
2014
2013
Evidence, Foundations, and Objections
2013
Preparing a Case for Trial
2012
Evidence, Foundations, and Objections
2012
Boom to Bust
2011
Evidence, Foundations, and Objections
2010
Evidence, Foundations, and Objections
2010
Your Child's D.I.G.I.T.A.L Life - Safety Tips for Parents
2010
Safeguarding Your Future - One Student Loan at a Time
2010
Identity Theft
2009
Your Child's D.I.G.I.T.A.L Life - Safety Tips for Parents
2009
Safeguarding Your Future - One Student Loan at a Time
2009
Identity Theft
2008
Your Child's D.I.G.I.T.A.L Life - Safety Tips for Parents
2008
Safeguarding Your Future - One Student Loan at a Time
2006
Conducting a Direct Examination
English
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