John Paul Velez

Mr. Velez has 18 years of experience and is a Partner of Arbore Velez, LLC. He joined Arbore Velez, LLC as an associate after over four years of serving as an Assistant Deputy Public Defender for the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender. 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 is 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 on 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. Awards and Honors Super Lawyers® Selectees John Paul Velez included in a Super Lawyers® list Honors Rising Star Other Sources of Feedback About John Paul Velez Included on the 2026New Jersey Super Lawyers list Past Lists 2025 New Jersey Super Lawyers list 2024 New Jersey Super Lawyers list 2023 New Jersey Super Lawyers list 2022 New Jersey Super Lawyers list 2021 New Jersey Super Lawyers list 2020 New Jersey Super Lawyers list 2019 New Jersey Super Lawyers list 2018 New Jersey Super Lawyers list 2017 New Jersey Super Lawyers list 2016 New Jersey Super Lawyers list 2015 New Jersey Super Lawyers list 2014 New Jersey Super Lawyers list 2013 New Jersey Super Lawyers list 2012 New Jersey Super Lawyers list 2011 New Jersey Super Lawyers list

• Partner

• Honorable Marilyn C. Clark, P.J. Cr., Presiding Criminal Judge in the Passaic Vicinage, Clerk
• Howard University Criminal Justice Clinic and as a research assistant to Professor Adam Kurland, Student attorney
• Languages
• English
• Spanish
• Specialties and Certifications
• Certified as a Mediator

• New Jersey Office of the Public Defender (Assistant Deputy Public Defender)
• New Jersey State Bar Association (Member)
• New Jersey Hispanic Bar Association (Member)
• Morris County Bar Association (Member)
• Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey (Member)
• Fraternities and Sororities
• Phi Kappa Phi