Evangelista ’94 From Public Defender to Magistrate Judge

Paul Evangelista ’94, currently First Assistant with the U.S. Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Northern District of New York, has spent his career fighting for the underdog. After earning his Juris Doctor from Albany Law in 1994, Evangelista felt drawn to criminal defense work.

His decades-long career as a defender, however, is about to come to a close as he has been selected to serve as a Magistrate Judge in the Albany Courthouse, filling the vacancy that will be left by Magistrate Judge Christian F. Hummel ’81 when he retires in January 2025.

He credits Albany Law School’s Anthony V. Cardona ’70 Moot Court Program with helping him realize his passion for the courtroom. “A big part of it was the Senior Prize Trials and the Gabrielli Competition, where I actually got to practice as a lawyer. By no means was I any good at it back then, but I experienced what it was like to get on your feet and make arguments, and I enjoyed it,” Evangelista said.

“When my time on the bench is over, I’d like to be known as a judge that lawyers enjoyed appearing before, and litigants felt they were treated fairly.”

Those early experiences guided him through the initial stages of his career. Immediately after law school, Evangelista joined private practice at Ackerman Wachs and Finton, P.C., where he was drawn to partners specializing in criminal defense, soon, he found himself practicing under the Criminal Justice Act (CJA), which provides attorneys for defendants unable to afford counsel in federal cases. 

“In late 1998, we heard there might be a defender office opening in Albany. I was doing a lot of CJA work at the time and certainly was interested in working in federal court--it was a great environment, and I enjoyed my federal cases,” Evangelista said. “It intrigued me to get into the public sector and work in the Federal Public Defenders Office.”

In 1999, when the Federal Public Defenders Office for the Northern District of New York opened, Evangelista had just made partner and wasn’t ready to make the switch. He admits that, almost immediately, it was a decision he regretted. “I liked my partners and enjoyed the variety of the work, but kept thinking, what if?” he said. However, his regret was short-lived when another opportunity came around. 

“Less than a year later, a position opened up. I applied, was accepted, and have worked for the Federal Public Defender’s Office since November 2, 2000,” he said.

Over the next 24 years, Evangelista successfully represented defendants in over 1,800 criminal cases, gaining a reputation as a skilled and passionate advocate. Yet, despite his extensive experience, Evangelista never imagined himself one day sitting on the bench.

“I always admired the judges I appeared in front of. Before I was even in the Federal Public Defenders Office, I remember being treated so professionally, even though I knew very little about the law at the time,” he said. “I never allowed myself to think, ‘Oh, I am going to go from defender to magistrate,’ not many had come from the defense side, and none from within the Federal Defenders in Northern New York. My ambition was to move up in my office.”

That changed with the retirement of the Hon. Christian F. Hummel, creating an opportunity that Evangelista couldn’t pass up. 

“The timing could not have been better. I have been practicing law for 30 years and criminal law exclusively for the last 25, and in talking to the people I trusted, including the head of our office, Lisa Peebles, and other confidants, I thought if I were ever going to be a Magistrate Judge, this was the time to do it. But it was not something I ever considered until a spot opened at the right time.”

Evangelista had been slated to take over as the Federal Public Defender of the Northern District of New York when Peebles retired in 2025. But when the magistrate judge position opened, he recognized that it was too good an opportunity to overlook.

In November 2024, Evangelista was selected by The Board of Judges of the Northern District of New York to become a Magistrate Judge. He will make history as the first person from his office to transition to this role. Evangelista believes his 25 years as a criminal defense attorney will help him bring a unique perspective to the bench

“My experience as a Federal Public Defender will allow me to bring empathy and understanding to the litigants who appear before me,” he explained. “Having worked closely with clients, I understand the challenges that both the attorney and the client face. I hope that my background will make me a fair and thoughtful judge, one who has a unique perspective of those who come before the court.”

Looking ahead, Evangelista hopes to create a lasting reputation as a Magistrate Judge who is respected by lawyers and known for ensuring fairness in his courtroom. “When my time on the bench is over, I’d like to be known as a judge that lawyers enjoyed appearing before, and litigants felt they were treated fairly,” he said.

For current and future students at Albany Law, Evangelista has one key piece of advice: get involved. “Take advantage of the competitions at the law school, get to know your professors, join your local bar association and the Federal Court Bar, and network. If you’re interested in a career in federal defense or criminal law, internships are crucial. You need hands-on experience to understand what being a defense lawyer is really like.”