John L. Kotchick III, is a lifelong resident of the Broome County area. I grew up in the Town of Vestal, graduated from Vestal High School. Attended undergraduate school at Cortland State University and eventually completed my Law Degree at Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing Michigan.I started practicing in a small firm in Endicott New York in 1986. One Sunday afternoon as I was sitting watching a football game without a care in the world the phone rang. It was my boss who said you have a jury trial starting at 9am in Binghamton City Court…tomorrow! That’s how I started my career in the trial courts of the State of New York and I’ve never looked back. Having experienced the crucible of the trial court my goal then was to become a full time trial lawyer, thus, an Assistant District Attorney in the Broome County District Attorney’s Office. I spent 16 years as a prosecutor, trying everything from vehicle and traffic infractions to criminally negligent homicides. As a prosecutor I tried over 150 cases to verdict both misdemeanors and felonies. For a period of 5 years I was the head of the Felony DWI bureau. I prosecuted every felony level drinking and driving offense in the county as well as every case involving death or serious physical injury due to the consumption of alcohol or drugs in a motor vehicle. As a prosecutor I’ve also been asked to teach a broad spectrum of criminal/legal issues to local law enforcement as well. I instructed at the Local Police Academy, The Peace Officer Training Academy and the police Supervisors School. After 16 years as a prosecutor I decided to see if I could apply what I had learned over the years to defending the Constitutional Rights of the accused. I joined the Broome County Public Defender’s office in 2004 and remained there for the next 5 years. I was now trying cases against prosecutors I had worked with, and helped train, and enjoying every minute of it. Burglary, Robbery, Criminal Possession of Controlled Substances, Grand Larceny, Sex cases, you name it, I’ve tried them all. I have since gone into private practice and my trial skills and litigation experience now take me to Family court, Supreme Court in contested divorces and various other courts throughout the state. I encourage anyone who has a legal issue, large or small, who is looking for the intimacy of a smaller boutique law firm, with over 60 years of experience in hard fought, complex litigation, that will set your mind at ease, and accept your issues as our issues, to make an appointment today.