Joseph D. Favata
Joseph D. Favata (Joey) is a member of the New York State Bar Association and the National College for DUI Defense, and is certified in field sobriety testing. As a partner in Baska & Favata, Joey manages a wide variety of criminal defense cases, including all aspects of DWI defense, misdemeanors, and felonies, as well as traffic violations. He has an excellent track record in both jury and bench trials, from the smallest local court to larger city and county courts. Joey believes in the vigorous representation of all individuals charged with a criminal offense and strives for optimal result in all of his cases.
Joey has lived in Syracuse for the majority of his life. He attended the University at Albany, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, and a Minor in Economics and History. Upon completion of his undergraduate studies, Joey matriculated at the Valparaiso University School of Law. He focused his studies on Criminal Law and participated in the University Law Clinic, Criminal Law Division.
Joey's interest in litigation is lifelong. While in law school, he attended the Cambridge University Study Abroad Program in Cambridge, England. He served as Assistant Director for the program and studied international jurisprudence. He also clerked for the Cook County Circuit Court in Chicago, Illinois.
Heavily involved with the campus's Student Association among others, Mr. Favata strived from his first days in college to represent and defend students' rights, and he was successful in doing so. He began by running for the Student Senate, citing the then $300,000 deficit of student funds as his primary campaign issue. After his election, he was appointed Finance Committee Chairman. He led the charge in instituting multiple significant changes to finance policy, creating more balance with the Executive Branch and giving the Senate unprecedented oversight.
Following these successes, Joey was asked to serve as the Student Association's Assistant Comptroller to assist the Executive Branch with the transition. There he created a more efficient internal departmental policy that led to more conscientious spending. He also served as consultant to the Student Association's copy services, an organization that was hemorrhaging money. Upon implementation of the advice provided, the copy services soon became profitable without increasing prices or decreasing services.
Joey was then elected as the Student Association's Vice Chairman of the Senate, where he fought against tuition increases, fee increases and service cutbacks. He also served as Legislation Vice Chairman to the Student Assembly, where he represented student interests on a state-wide level to the New York State Legislature.
Joey also litigated several cases before the Student Association's Supreme Court. He had unprecedented results and was often called upon for his analysis by the Court in cases for which he was not otherwise involved. He further represented student interests by serving on the University Auxiliary Services Board of Directors. He was elected Vice President of the Board and vigorously defended student's interests as it related to non-educational essential services on campus. He also worked as a clerk with Senator Joseph E. Robach in the New York State Senate, and he was a member of the University's ski team. In recognition of all of these services, Joey received the President's Outstanding Senior Award, the most prestigious award presented by the University.