Balch, John Randolph

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, A. J. Balbo is a graduate of Duquesne University in Pittsburgh and Fordham University School of Law in New York City. While a law student, Mr. Balbo served as an editor of the Fordham Urban Law Journal and the Moot Court Board. He also interned for the Honorable Kevin T. Duffy, U.S. District Court Judge, and worked at the firm of Carpenter, Bennett & Morrissey in Newark, New Jersey.

Following law school, Mr. Balbo entered the Army Judge Advocate General's Corps with the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia. He provided legal counsel to Soldiers and their family members on issues including landlord-tenant law, consumer's rights, family law, and wills.

Mr. Balbo deployed with the 3d Infantry Division as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom and "crossed the berm" into Iraq in March 2003. Serving as a brigade trial counsel (military prosecutor), Mr. Balbo was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his service in Iraq.

After returning to Fort Stewart, Mr. Balbo continued to serve as a prosecutor, trying a wide variety of cases, including desertion, sexual assault, drug distribution, and child pornography. In 2004, Mr. Balbo prosecuted a high-profile desertion case, wherein he successfully argued against former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark.