Camille has been a civil rights and criminal defense attorney for 25 years.  She began her career in Brooklyn at the Legal Aid Society's Criminal Defense Division, where she was a top notch trial lawyer for eleven years:  five years as a staff attorney and six years as a supervisor, training young attorneys in how to defend the accused and fight to keep the prosecution honest. 

In 1994, Camille opened her own office in Manhattan, where she expanded her practice to include civil rights cases, suing the State or federal government under 42 U.S.C. 1983, and protecting women, the disabled, the elderly, and others from discrimination.  Her husband joined the practice in 1995, and the firm became Abate & Preuss. 

Camille is one of very few women litigators who are lead partners in a New York firm.  She has taken on large federal cases against the United States Attorney's Office, and has prosecuted against corporations and municipal governments as well, on behalf of the poor and others who have never had a voice or the power to defend themselves.

Camille and her family are members of the West Side Presbyterian Church, and are active participants.  For many years, until her children were in high school, Camille taught Sunday School.   Every fall West Side sponsors a homeless shelter in the Barn, and Camille regularly volunteers to host evenings.  Two years ago the family celebrated Thanksgiving with the homeless, with Camille cooking the feast.   From 2002 to 2005 she also served on the Board of Trustees.

All three boys participate in the mission trips to Mexico and Asheville, N.C., to build housing for the homeless, and Danny and Erik are camp counselors for the church camp.  Rob and the boys also sing in the choir.

Rob and Camille actively supported all three boys through recreation football, baseball, and basketball, with Rob coaching teams for all three boys.  For many years, much spare time was spent traveling from town to town to watch one of the boys playing some sport or another, and it was a great time for the family.   

Camille was an active member of the Village Independent Democrats in Greenwich Village from 1976 to 1987.  Among her activities was co-chairing the campaign to elect Mario Cuomo governor in 1982, as well as supporting local council candidates and judicial candidates. She also attended the 1976 Democratic Convention in New York City. 

Once Erik was born, however, she scaled back political activity and devoted herself to raising a family and working.  However, in 2003 she resumed her political activism by joining Howard Dean's exciting presidential campaign, helping to lead the meet-ups and traveling to New Hampshire to campaign.  After the 2004 presidential election, Camille started a Voter Fraud exploratory group and traveled down to Florida to investigate whether there had been abuses or technical problems in the voting precincts. 

 

The family in the 1990s enjoying Echo Lake in the White Mountains of New Hampshire

Camille met her husband, Robert Preuss, at the Legal Aid Society in Brooklyn.  Because both of them were workaholics, they would run into each other at the law library on the weekends.  Hundreds of deep conversations later, they were married.

Camille had her first child, Erik Angelo Preuss, in 1987.  Erik is now a handsome 20 year old who is a voracious reader and writer.  Erik helped his mom when she campaigned for Howard Dean in 2003 and early 2004, and then worked on the campaign of Anne Wolfe when she ran against Scott Garrett in 2004.  Erik has no political aspirations of his own -- yet. 

Daniel Payne Preuss was born in 1989, and today is a senior at Glen Rock High School, where he plays varsity baseball and basketball.  A talented athlete, Danny is very interested in history and world events, and his life plan is to be a history teacher who coaches baseball and basketball on the side.

Camille with John and Danny on a hike

John Francis Preuss, the youngest of Camille and Rob's children, is 15 years old and a sophomore at Glen Rock High School.  He is a football player and a comedian.  When the pressure's on Mom, John John knows how to use humor to take the stress off.  He also gives great shoulder massages.

John acting in "The Music Man" at Glen Rock High School

The best times with the kids have been the yearly hiking and camping adventures -- to Acadia National Park in Maine, the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and the Adirondaks in New York State.  The entire family has a love of the mountains and the outdoors -- and as long as the air mattresses are not leaking, car camping is more fun than a hotel.

From left, John, Danny and Erik on top of a mountain in Maine

When Camille decided to take on Scott Garrett, she asked her kids their opinions.  Erik was all for it.  Danny wanted to know if that meant the family would become rich -- when the answer was no, he lost some of his interest in it.  John John's point of view was that less supervision of his activities was a good thing.  (Rob disabused John of that notion.)  The decision to run for Congress was a tough one, because of the stress it would put on the family.  But together Camille and her family agreed that the good that could be done outweighed the difficulties.  And with her children being as outspoken as she is, Camille can rely on having lots of moral support.