Executive Assistant Prosecutor

Executive Assistant Prosecutor Michael M. Abatemarco graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts from Saint Peter’s College in 1997. In 2001, he earned his Juris Doctorate with Honors from Rutgers School of Law-Camden.

Executive Assistant Prosecutor Abatemarco began his legal career as an Appellate Division Law Clerk, clerking for the Honorable Mary Catherine Cuff, J.A.D. Following his clerkship, Mr. Abatemarco practiced as an Associate in the law firm of Grossman, Kruttschnitt, Heavey and Jacob, specializing in medical malpractice until 2005.

In 2005, former Ocean County Prosecutor Thomas F. Kelaher appointed Mr. Abatemarco to the position of Assistant Ocean County Prosecutor. Over the last 22 years, Mr. Abatemarco has served the Prosecutor’s Office in numerous roles, including Trial Team Supervisor, Director of the Ocean County Narcotics Strike Force, and most recently, as Chief of Professional Standards/Internal Affairs. During that time, he was honored to be named Assistant Prosecutor of the Year by the New Jersey Narcotic Officers Association in 2015, as well as the County Prosecutors Association Award for Outstanding Victim Advocacy in 2020. Mr. Abatemarco has also been recognized as a Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer by the New Jersey Supreme Court since 2014.

In July 2026, Mr. Abatemarco was promoted to the position of Executive Assistant Prosecutor by Prosecutor Billhimer.