Business Details
26 Years
experience
Criminal Defense from Former Police Officer Joseph Horn
At Joseph Horn Law Firm, we combine deep legal expertise with personal advocacy to protect clients' rights. Founded by Joseph Horn, a former New Jersey police officer with over 20 years in law enforcement and 24+ years as a criminal defense attorney, our firm offers unique insights into the justice system. We provide tailored legal strategies, compassionate representation, and courtroom-tested defense for drug charges, DUI/DWI, federal cases, and more.Our team includes seasoned attorneys with backgrounds in law enforcement, corporate litigation, and appellate support. Recognized by NJ Super Lawyers and Bergen Magazine, we train law enforcement professionals while maintaining active memberships in legal communities across NJ, NY, and PA. Our commitment to justice extends through partnerships with access-to-justice nonprofits, ensuring clients receive both legal excellence and human understanding.
Services
Drug Charges
DUI/DWI Defense
Federal Charges
Restraining Order
Theft Offenses
Traffic Ticket Defense
Expungements
Municipal Charges
County Charges
State Charges
Details
- Year established: 2000
Highlights and features
- 20+ years as NJ police officer and 24+ years as criminal defense attorney
- Certified law enforcement instructor for NJ Police Training Commission
- Recognized in NJ Super Lawyers and Bergen County Top Lawyers
- Active member of legal communities across NJ, NY & PA
- Partnership with access-to-justice nonprofit organizations
Associations and certifications
- NJ Super Lawyers
- Bergen Magazine
What people say
Exceptional professionalism
Compassionate support
Exceeded expectations
Personal attention
Amazing results
Services
Drug Charges
Our firm provides comprehensive defense against drug-related charges including possession, trafficking, and prescription drug offenses. With Joseph Horn's unique background as a former police officer and 24+ years of legal experience, we challenge evidence admissibility, identify procedural violations, and develop strategic defenses tailored to each case. Our approach focuses on minimizing penalties while protecting clients' licenses, employment, and future opportunities.
DUI/DWI Defense
We defend clients against DUI/DWI charges with specialized knowledge of breath testing procedures and field sobriety evaluations. Our team leverages Joseph Horn's law enforcement expertise to identify technical errors in testing, challenge probable cause for stops, and negotiate reduced penalties. We represent clients facing first-time offenses through complex felony DUI cases across New Jersey's municipal and superior courts.
Federal Charges
Our firm handles federal criminal charges including drug trafficking, white-collar crimes, and interstate offenses. With admission to federal courts in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, we employ strategic defense approaches that consider both prosecution tactics and judicial expectations. We focus on minimizing sentencing exposure while protecting clients' constitutional rights throughout the federal court process.
Expungements
We assist clients in clearing criminal records through expungement proceedings. Our team navigates New Jersey's complex expungement laws to help clients qualify for record sealing based on eligibility criteria, criminal history, and rehabilitation efforts. We handle all aspects of the process from petition preparation to court representation, aiming to restore clients' opportunities for employment and housing.
Traffic Ticket Defense
Our firm defends against traffic violations that could impact driving records and insurance rates. We challenge traffic summonses through legal arguments and evidence review, focusing on technical violations and procedural errors. We represent clients in court to minimize fines, prevent license suspensions, and maintain clean driving records for both personal and commercial drivers.
People
Joseph M. Horn
Founder & Managing Attorney
Former NJ police officer with 20+ years experience and criminal defense attorney for 24+ years. Holds degrees from Brooklyn Law School and University of Pennsylvania Law School. Recognized by NJ Super Lawyers and Bergen Magazine.
Adam Taxin
Associate Attorney
Graduate of Harvard College and Columbia Law School with nearly a decade of criminal defense experience. Admitted in four states and former Jeopardy! champion. Brings analytical rigor to complex cases.
Andrew Kessler
Associate Attorney
30+ years legal experience including Fortune 500 litigation and corporate compliance. Georgetown Law graduate with transition from Skadden Arps to defense practice in 2018.
Ida Marks
Senior Legal Administrator
40+ years legal administration experience managing firm operations. Handles case logistics and client communications with precision honed through appellate support work.
Michael F. Hartley
Associate Attorney
Licensed in NJ and FL with experience in all 21 NJ counties. Florida Coastal Law graduate and former judicial clerk. Focuses on criminal court representation across state jurisdictions.
Questions
What areas of law does Joseph Horn Law Firm specialize in?
We specialize in criminal defense including drug charges, DUI/DWI, federal offenses, traffic violations, expungements, and municipal court matters across New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
How does Joseph Horn's police background benefit clients?
His 20+ years as NJ police officer provides unique insights into law enforcement procedures, helping identify procedural errors and develop effective defense strategies against criminal charges.
Do you offer free consultations?
Yes, we provide free, no-obligation consultations to discuss your case details and legal options with attorney Joseph Horn personally.
Can you handle cases in multiple states?
Licensed in NJ, NY, and PA, we represent clients across state lines in drug charges, federal offenses, and other criminal matters requiring multi-jurisdictional defense.
How do you communicate with clients during cases?
We maintain clear, frequent communication through preferred channels while keeping clients informed about case developments, court dates, and strategic decisions.
What makes your firm different from other criminal defense practices?
Combining law enforcement experience with legal expertise, we offer personalized representation that understands both prosecution strategies and clients' personal impacts of criminal charges.
Reviews (7)
Danilo Silva
Sep 17, 2020
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Joe is hands down one of the best attorneys around. Joe and his staff will go out of their way to fight for you when you need it most. Joan in the office is exceptional as well being readily available and prompt with any and all questions you may have. Superior knowledge of the law and exemplary customer service are what you will get with the Law Offices of Joseph Horn. Would highly recommend! A+++!
Dm
Jun 28, 2020
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Where do I even begin from day 1 of meeting Joe and presenting my case to him I felt totally confident. I never really got in trouble like this before , and the charge was a total misunderstanding but it could have went either way . By me not knowing what to expect , he made me feel comfortable and relaxed the whole process . The charge was serious and could have impacted my whole life (job etc) depending on the result. He helped me calm down , and take it day by day by guiding me with info with steps to take to help and in the end it was the best outcome . If anyone needs any lawyer get on the
Justin Delabruyere
Oct 01, 2019
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From the moment I walked into his office 2 years ago when my life and career was crumbling apart, Joe put me at ease. He is confident in himself and demands that you are confident in yourself. He had more concern about me as a person and my own personal life and family then the huge case that he was about to take on. Like I said he put me at ease and earned not only my trust but my family's as well.Joe has gone above and beyond what he was paid to do, acting not only as my counsel but treated me as family and a caring friend. He has been there for me in more ways than one and I never expected that
A. B.
Jun 20, 2019
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Joe, I'm happy to say I'm finished paying off my fine! I'm truly so grateful for you, you took the time to explain the situation to me and how everything worked. I had no idea what I was facing, but you explained to me the possible outcomes. You put me at such ease keeping me updated on everything! Your expertise gave me the BEST possible outcome I could imagine! I kindly thank you from the bottom of my heart for getting me through that situation, and for believing in me as a person. I HIGHLY recommend anyone dealing with a legal situation to CALL JOE!! HE WILL GET YOU THROUGH IT! JUST LISTEN!
Gloria Rivera
Jun 12, 2019
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Joe took my son's DUI case where he was issued numerous motor vehicle summonses. Joe's former police officer experience along with his legal expertise helped reduce the summonses issued. He produced reliable resources who examined the incident and determined that the breath tests were incorrectly administered, which resulted in my son walking away with minimal charges. Joe is amazing. He is friendly, easy to talk to and gives detailed direction and explanations. I'm more than satisfied with his service and recommend his office. Thank you, Joe for all you do. Be well.
Radames Mendez
May 07, 2019
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I hire Joseph as my attorney for some traffic violations I had and man did he do a great job!! The best thing I can say about his service is that you don't have to worry about one thing. He takes care of it all which gave me great peace of mind. No taking time off from my business and losing money to go to court. I would recommend him to anyone looking for a good lawyer for a fair price.
Kwang Joo
Dec 01, 2018
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In another lifetime, Mr. Joseph Horn would have been crucified - I've personally witnessed this man perform a miracle in the courtroom! He is compassionate, you can tell he loves what he does, which is to help people who have come across unfortunate circumstances. He is extremely knowledgeable with the law, and listens and responds to your questions and needs. He responds to you in a timely manner (extremely responsive), which is important and great. I would 5/5 refer him, he's amazing.
