New York attorney record · Judicial Dept 2
John Merrill Dowden
Touro University Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center alumna, admitted to the New York bar in 1988, registered office in Riverhead, NY. Decades of status, address, and registration history on this record come straight from the NY Office of Court Administration.
- 1988
- Admitted
- 38
- Years in bar
- 2188308
- NY reg #
The record in one line
With 38 years on the register since a 1988 admission, John Merrill Dowden ranks among the New York bar's most senior active practitioners, longer-tenured than 79% of the currently-active bar.
- 38 yrs
- in active practice since admission
- Active
- current bar status: "Currently registered"
- #77 of 353
- by tenure in Riverhead office peers
- Law school
- Touro University Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center
Data updated September 2026
What this profile tells you
Bar status & tenure
Registration 2188308 with the New York bar authority has long belonged to John Merrill Dowden, a veteran practitioner still in active good standing. Registration is recorded within Judicial Department 2, the appellate division overseeing this attorney's home district.
Practice context & education
Practice address is listed under Arthur M. Cromarty Criminal Court Complex, located in Riverhead, NY (Suffolk County), ZIP 11901. Educational background: Touro University Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center (6,491 registered alumni).
State context & due diligence
After 38 years on the register, John Merrill Dowden still falls within the New York bar's active cohort, a share of the register detailed further below.
Experience vs. the active New York bar
Few active New York attorneys match John Merrill Dowden's 38 years since admission in 1988.
38 years on the New York bar
Years since admission, all currently-active NY attorneys
38 Top 21% higher than 79% of 290,787 active NY attorneys
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more active NY attorneys. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source NY Office of Court Administration, Attorney Registration · September 2026
Tenure among Riverhead, NY office peers
Most of the 353 NY-registered attorneys in Riverhead, NY outrank John Merrill Dowden on tenure; this record sits at the 22nd local percentile (rank #77). See the Riverhead attorney directory .
- Local rank
- #77
- City cohort
- 353
- Local percentile
- 22nd
- Admitted
- 1988
Nearest tenure peers in Riverhead
- William Francis Andes Jr admitted 1988 · 38 yr
- Paul Michael Dechance admitted 1988 · 38 yr
- Philip Goglas admitted 1988 · 38 yr
- Karen Joan Hagen admitted 1988 · 38 yr
How local rank is computed
Rank uses years since NY-bar admission among non-deceased registry rows that list the same office city and state, a local placement, not a statewide claim. Source: NY Office of Court Administration Attorney Registration · as of September 2026. Derived local rank, not published upstream.
How John compares to fellow Touro University Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center alumni
Among the 4,579 Touro University Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center graduates in the New York register, John Merrill Dowden is longer-tenured than 99%.
38 years vs. Touro University Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center alumni
Years since admission - 4,579 NY-registered alumni of this school
38 Top 1% higher than 99% of 4,579 fellow alumni
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more fellow alumni. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source NY Office of Court Administration, Attorney Registration · September 2026
Touro University Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center's active-bar rate
Of Touro University Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center's 6,491 alumni in the New York register, 79.2% currently hold "Currently registered" status, above the statewide average.
The 1988 admission class today
Of the 6,238 attorneys admitted to the New York bar in 1988, 56.7% are still "Currently registered" today, below the statewide average across all admission years.
Professional Details
- Status
- Currently registered
- Registration Number
- 2188308
- Year Admitted
- 1988 (38 yrs · veteran)
- Judicial Department
- 2
- Next Registration
- Nov 2026
Location & Contact
- Company
- Arthur M. Cromarty Criminal Court Complex
- City
- Riverhead, NY
- County
- Suffolk
- ZIP Code
- 11901
- Phone
- (631) 852-2177
Status Distribution Across the New York Bar
John Merrill Dowden's current status, "Currently registered", places this attorney in the 67.2% of the 432,625-attorney New York register currently marked active.
Full statewide breakdown & source note
Source: NY Office of Court Administration, Attorney Registrations. Status counts reflect the latest reporting cycle. Bar status confirms registration only; it does not imply competence, specialty fit, or freedom from complaints.
Near-tenure Touro University Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center alumni
Fellow alumni on the NY register whose admission year is closest to 1988 (excluding same-firm colleagues above).
Same admission year (1988), other cities
NY-registered attorneys admitted in 1988 whose listed office city differs from Riverhead, a vintage cohort, not a neighborhood list.
Nationwide attorneys with similar admission year or city registry density
Two non-geo peer axes for John Merrill Dowden: closest NY bar admission year outside NY, and closest out-of-state office cities by how many NY-registered attorneys they list (~354 here). Distinct from same-firm, fellow-alumni, and same-year other-city strips above.
Similar admission year (~1988)
Counts come from the NY State Office of Court Administration registration extract; peers are not a competence or practice-area ranking.
Verify This Attorney
Verify on NY Courts Attorney SearchNearby Attorneys in Riverhead, NY
Compare credentials side-by-side
Compare John Merrill Dowden with similar attorneys in Riverhead.
Compare attorneys →Before you rely on this record
John Merrill Dowden's "Currently registered" listing confirms bar standing only, it is a registration fact to verify, not a verdict on quality or competence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is John Dowden licensed?
John Dowden is licensed to practice law in New York.
When was John Merrill Dowden admitted to the bar?
John Merrill Dowden's admission to the New York bar dates back to 1988.
Where did John Merrill Dowden go to law school?
John Merrill Dowden attended Touro University Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center.
What company does John Merrill Dowden work for?
John Merrill Dowden is associated with Arthur M. Cromarty Criminal Court Complex in Riverhead, NY.
Is John Merrill Dowden in good standing?
Yes, John Merrill Dowden holds active bar status ("Currently registered").
Cite this page & disclosure
Sourced from the NY Office of Court Administration, informational only, not legal advice. Full disclosure.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.