Anthony P. Kearns, III has been the managing partner of Kearns Rotolo Law since January 2022. He is a highly skilled courtroom advocate focusing on personal injury, criminal defense, family law, domestic violence and municipal matters.
Mr. Kearns is the former Hunterdon County Prosecutor and the only one to have been appointed to this position for two terms, making him Hunterdon County's longest serving prosecutor. He has earned statewide recognition as a criminal defense attorney and has the distinction of having worked on both sides of the criminal justice system. During his tenure as the county’s Chief Law Enforcement Officer, Mr. Kearns managed and led of team of detectives and assistant prosecutors with the goal of prosecuting and preventing criminal activities. This prosecutorial experience provides Mr. Kearns with unique insight into how the state prepares and prosecutes criminal cases, which he then uses to skillfully and powerfully defend his clients against charges.
In 2024 Anthony P. Kearns was selected to the list of New Jersey Super Lawyers. The Super Lawyers list is generated by the Thomson Reuters organization according to the methodology and set of standards set forth in superlawyers.com/about/selection-process.
Mr. Kearns also held the position of Deputy Attorney General for the Attorney General of New Jersey. As Deputy Attorney General, among other duties, Mr. Kearns prosecuted licensees for various professional boards, as well as prosecuting for the Division of Youth & Family Services and before the Office of Administrative Law, State & Federal Courts.
Throughout his career, Mr. Kearns has been a vigorous contributor to the legal community. He has served in various positions for the Hunterdon County Bar Association. Additionally, Mr. Kearns is the NJ delegate for the County Prosecutors Association of New Jersey.
- Suffolk University Law School
- J.D. (1998) | Law
- Honors: Cum laude; "Transnational Law Review:" Published Article, "Customary International Law Grants the Right To Food;" Distinguished Brief Award, 1st Year Section Competition
- Loyola College
- M.S. | Counseling
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- Master of Science in Counseling
- Saint Anselm College
- B.A. | Psychology and Spanish
- Honors: Cum laude; Delta Epsilon Sigma - National Catholic Honor Society; Pi Gama Mu - National Social Science Honor Society; Sigma Delta Pi - National Spanish Honor Society; "Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges;" King Edward Society - College Charitable Honor Society
- American Institute, Valencia, Spain
- Study Abroad | Spanish
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- Intensive indoctrination into Spanish culture. All course work and examinations conducted in Spanish.
- Managing Partner
- Kearns Rotolo Law
- - Current
- Chief Executive Officer & Chairman of the Board of Trustees
- Catholic Charities - Diocese of Metuchen
- - Current
- Chancellor - General Counsel
- The Diocese of Metuchen
- - Current
- Prosecutor: Chief Law Enforcement Officer for the County
- Hunterdon County, New Jersey
- -
- Chief Law Enforcement Officer for the County
- Partner
- Rylak, Gianos, Kearns, and Phillips
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- Deputy Attorney General
- Office of the Attorney General of New Jersey
- -
- Division of Law
- New Jersey Super Lawyers
- Thomson Reuters
- AV Preeminent Lawyer
- Martindale-Hubbell
- Client's Choice Award
- Avvo
- Mr. Kearns received the Avvo Client's Choice Award Badge in 2023. This award is granted to attorneys with a significant number of 4+ star reviews in a given year.
- Hunterdon County Bar Association
- County Judicial and Prosecutorial Appointments Committee Member
- - Current
- Supreme Court of New Jersey
- District XIII Ethics Committee
- - Current
- Activities: Appointed by the Supreme Court of New Jersey to serve on the District XIII Ethics Committee for Hunterdon, Somerset, and Warren Counties.
- County Prosecutors Association of New Jersey
- New Jersey Delegate
- - Current
- New Jersey State Bar Association
- Special Committee on Drug and Alcohol Abuse
- - Current
- New Jersey State Bar  # 026671998
- Member
- - Current
- New Jersey
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
- U.S. Supreme Court
- Free Consultation
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Appeals, Drug Crimes, Expungement, Fraud, Gun Crimes, Internet Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Violent Crimes
- Personal Injury
- Animal & Dog Bites, Brain Injury, Car Accidents, Construction Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Premises Liability, Truck Accidents, Wrongful Death
- Domestic Violence
- Domestic Violence Criminal Defense, Domestic Violence Restraining Orders, Victims Rights
- English: Spoken, Written