James Thomas Amburgey
Asheville Criminal Defense Attorney
Thomas Amburgey is a board-certified specialist in state criminal law. As a former prosecutor with the Office of the District Attorney for Buncombe County, he handled thousands of cases, ranging from minor offenses like speeding tickets to capital offenses like first-degree murder. That experience gives him an immeasurable advantage in the courtroom.
Because pleas are often made and charges can be dismissed, many criminal law attorneys only experience a handful of trials in their entire careers. Thomas has successfully completed hundreds of bench trials and dozens of jury trials from both sides of the aisle. Regardless of your charge, Thomas Amburgey has the experience necessary to provide you with the best defense possible.
Thomas is an AV Preeminent Peer Rated Lawyer at Martindale Hubbell, America’s oldest and most respected peer-review entity, since 2017. He has been continuously recognized by North Carolina Super Lawyers Rising Stars since 2018 and in the Business North Carolina Legal Elite since 2019.
- Appalachian School of Law
- J.D. (2007)
- Honors: Deans List spring 2005, finished in top 25% of class for first year.
- Activities: Student Bar Association, Student Ambassador, Phi Delta Phi, 5k Memorial Race Committee, Domestic Abuse Counselor, Member of ASL Softball Team
- East Tennessee State University
- B.A. (2004) | Corporate Finance, Minor, Political Science
- Activities: Sigma Phi Epsilon (President, Vice President, Treasurer, and national delegate), Member of the Student Athletic Advisory Board, and Intramurals
- Attorney
- Amburgey Law P.A.
- - Current
- Assistant District Attorney
- State of North Carolina
- -
- Intern
- Bearfield & Associates
- -
- Intern
- District Attorney's Office Sevier County
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- Intro to Criminal Law, Competent Criminal Representation for Civil Attorneys CLE, Bucombe County Courthouse
- Board Certified Specialist in State Criminal Law
- North Carolina State Bar
- Business NC Legal Elite Criminal Defense Law Section
- Business North Carolina Magazine
- North Carolina Super Lawyer
- North Carolina Super Lawyers
- Business NC Legal Elite Criminal Defense Law Section
- Business North Carolina Magazine
- AV Preeminent Rated
- Martindale-Hubble
- North Carolina Super Lawyer
- North Carolina Super Lawyers
- North Carolina State Bar
- Admitted
- - Current
- Buncombe County Bar Association
- Executive Committee Member
- -
- North Carolina
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Appeals, Drug Crimes, Expungement, Fraud, Gun Crimes, Internet Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Violent Crimes
- DUI & DWI
- White Collar Crime
- English