James Bernard Ferguson, Jr. Esq. is the second of five children born to James Bernard (Barney) and Jean Ferguson in the Bornx, NY. James traces his Irish heritage to County Leitrim through his grandparents William Ferguson and Mae (McGlynn). James attended St. Francis De Chantel in the Bronx and Pelham High School, Pelham, NY and went on to receive Bachelorof Art Degree from Marist College and a Law Degree from Pace University. He began his legal
career at the Bronx District Attorney’s Office in 1992, where he maintained a perfect trial record. James served as a Commissioner on the New York State Parole Board from 2005-to 2018, and has also served as an Administrative Law Judge for Parole on Riker’s Island and in multiple upstate New York Counties.
James began a teaching career in 1995, and has taught at Iona University, Monroe College and Mercy College. He has taught at both the graduate and undergraduate level, and also conducted lectures and C.L.E.’s for Judges, District Attorney’s, Defense Bar Associations, and Police Organizations. He created the first training manual for Parole Commissioners and assisted in lectures at the FBI National Academy. Throughout his career, James
has been recognized by the Westchester County Detectives Association, the Irish Echo “Top Law & Order”,Bronx Society for Preventing Cruelty to Children, Academy for Professional Law Enforcement, Retired Detectives, N.Y. State, Orange County and Long Island Shields, Bronx Precinct Council, Who’s Who in
America, and the Bronx D.A. Community Service. In 2015, he founded the Detective Barney Ferguson Emerald Legacy Fund, which provides scholarships and aids Police and Fire families. The charity is named after his well-known father, James Barney, who was the 1978 Grand Marshal for the NYC St. Patrick’s Day
Parade. James is a member of several Irish organizations: AOH Division 3, County Leitrim Society of New York, NYPD Emerald Society, NYPD Holy Name Society, Police Emerald Society of Westchester, and the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick. James and his wife Angie have been married for 25 year and he has 2 step-daughters, and five grandchildren. They are part of the parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Pelham.