James Michael Maloney

I have been a solo practitioner since 1999, after having worked for two historic maritime law firms in New York City. My practice now consists almost exclusively of federal litigation, including maritime and constitutional law. I am perhaps best known for my own pro se constitutional challenge to New York's ban on the in-home possession of the martial-arts weapon known as the nunchaku ("nunchucks"), a case that has been in litigation since 2003 (and continues as of November 2015, when this passage was last edited). Over the years, I have represented numerous individuals in state and federal court in connection with their constitutional rights involving nunchaku as well as other banned weapons, including the "black cat keychain" and the so-called "gravity knife." I continue to represent individuals and companies in maritime and other commercial matters, and, under certain circumstances, to provide criminal defense. Since 2011, I have served as a volunteer mediator at the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. My approach to litigation, like my approach to mediation, is to solve problems rather than create them.

New York University School of Law

LL.M. (2004) | Federalism & Federal Systems

2004

Fordham University School of Law

J.D. (1995) | Member, Fordham Law Review

1995

State University of New York - Maritime College at Ft. Schuyler

B.S. (1980) | Marine Business & Commerce; Humanities

1980

Volunteer Mediator

U.S. District Court, S.D.N.Y.

2011 - Current

Solo Practitioner

Law Office of James Maloney

1999 - Current

Editor, Fort Schuyler MARINER

Fort Schuyler Maritime Alumni Association, Inc.

2003 - 2008

Associate

Kirlin, Campbell & Keating

1996 - 1999

Associate

Burlingham Underwood LLP

1995 - 1996

Paramedic

Saint Vincent’s Hospital

1987 - 1995

Licensed Deck Officer

U.S. Merchant Marine

1980 - 1987

Petition for Certiorari, American Petroleum & Transport, Inc. v. City of New York

United States Supreme Court

2014

Fighting for Basic Human Rights in the Workplace: A Conversation with Lewis Maltby

Regional Labor Review (Hofstra University)

2003

A Breach in Tort’s Clothing: Pleading Cargo Claims to Gain Lien Priority

27 Journal of Maritime Law & Commerce 609

1996

Suits for the Hirsute: Defending Against America’s Undeclared War on Beards in the Workplace

63 Fordham Law Review 1203

1995

Shooting for an Omnipotent Congress: The Constitutionality of Federal Regulation of Intrastate Firearms Possession

62 Fordham Law Review 1795

1994

Proctor in Admiralty

Maritime Law Association of the United States

2000

Emmet J. McCormack Foundation Prize (Admiralty Law)

Fordham University School of Law

1995

Whitmore Gray Prize (International Law)

Fordham University School of Law

1995

Letter of commendation for rendering emergency medical care at sea aboard S.S. Pittsburgh

Sea-Land Service

1984

First Place, First Annual Spelling Bee

Knights of Columbus, Paulus Hook Council No. 475, Jersey City, New Jersey

1972

Maritime Law Association of the United States

Member

1996 - Current

Marine Society of the City of New York

Member

1996 - Current

Fort Schuyler Maritime Alumni Association

Member

1996 - Current

Association of the Bar of the City of New York

Member

1996 - 2016

New Jersey

Since 1997

New York

Since 1996

Supreme Court of the United States

Since 2001

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

Since 2000

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

Since 2002

U.S. Court of Federal Claims

Since 2005

U.S. Court of International Trade

Since 2001

U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut

Since 1999

U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey

Since 1997

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York

Since 1996

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas

Since 2015

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida

Since 2012

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Since 2001

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York

Since 2007

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Since 1996

• Constitutional Law
• Mediation (Except Matrimonial)
• Academy Disciplinary Matters (USMMA, SUNY Maritime)
• Non-Firearms Weapons Law (Nunchaku, Knives)
• Equitable Remedies (Injunctions)