Experience To Help You Navigate N.J. Courts
We get that dealing with the New Jersey court system is likely to be a new and foreign experience to you. Many people from Edison, New Brunswick, Woodbridge, Perth Amboy and other cities, townships and boroughs in Middlesex County who come to the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall for help are understandably anxious about a system that can destroy their financial well-being and take away their freedom.
What’s required for a defendant charged with a crime is that an experienced attorney like ours protects their rights. We thoroughly understand the New Jersey courts, and we know how they can be made to dispense justice under the law. Prosecutors will do all they can to get a guilty verdict, but they have to meet the burden of proof. When prosecutors don’t have a solid case, they know it — and we do too.
Our legal team has 100 years of combined experience in New Jersey criminal law. In many cases, your lawyer from the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall will understand the charges you face better than the prosecutor. New Jersey law often allows prosecutors to drop or downgrade charges or recommend lighter sentences, particularly in weak cases and when it’s appropriate for a first-time offender or someone who needs help instead of punishment. Our firm is known for creative approaches to criminal defense, and strategies that find the path to favorable outcomes for our clients.
Because of our knowledge and experience, prosecutors in Middlesex County listen to us when we propose alternative charges or sentences. They hear us out of because they have worked with us here in Edison, New Brunswick and other Middlesex County municipalities, or possibly in other courtrooms in New Jersey.
As your defense attorneys, we will seek the best outcome for you that the facts of your case allow. We will keep you in the loop about the status of your case and advise you about any considerations to bear in mind for the long-term as we develop a defense strategy. With your needs in mind, we will help you weigh pros and cons of a potential plea bargain or a program like Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI), Drug Court or Conditional Discharge, if you qualify and might benefit from it.
Criminal Attorneys in Edison New Jersey
We have witnessed the aftermath of defendants trying to go to court without proper legal representation protecting their interests. They often plead out or are found guilty, and then are slapped with harsh penalties and suffer the lasting harm of having a criminal record. The lawyers at the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall make sure outcomes like these are avoided. To learn how we can help you avoid a conviction and penalties stemming from your arrest in Edison, contact our Edison Office now at (732) 248-7675. An attorney is available around the clock to take your call so do not hesitate to call us whenever the need arises.
Frequently Asked Questions
Edison Criminal Charges
It is usually best to hire an attorney as soon after being arrested as possible. The reason for moving quickly is to ensure that none of your rights are prejudiced. Counsel will make sure all evidence is properly preserved, subpoenas are issued where necessary, and you know exactly what you need to do each and every step of the way so you have every chance of a favorable outcome.
Exposure to incarceration generally hinges on the severity of a charge. The maximum jail sentence for most disorderly persons offenses is 6 months. Crimes of the fourth, third, second and first degree involve potential state prison time ranging from 18 months to 20 years. A skilled criminal attorney is always going to provide the greatest opportunity to avoid imprisonment.
Every defendant has a constitutional right to an attorney or to represent themself if they so choose. The only exception is where a juvenile is being charged, in which case there is no right to representation other than via attorney.
While someone can appear in court without an attorney, it usually isn’t advisable since it is unlikely that the same result can be achieved. Minimally, you should take advantage of a free consultation to learn how a lawyer who is accomplished in defending Edison offenses can help you.
If your offense involves a disorderly persons offense, ordinance violation or a traffic ticket, your case will be heard in Edison Municipal Court. First, second, third and fourth degree crimes fall outside local jurisdiction and are heard at the Middlesex County Superior Court in New Brunswick New Jersey.
A reoccurring issue confronting our attorneys in Middlesex County and elsewhere in NJ is immigration consequences stemming from a criminal offense. Since cases heard in Edison Municipal Court are limited to disorderly persons offenses, which are considered misdemeanors, they typically are not considered aggravated felonies that can get you removed from the United States. You can, however, face a crime involving moral turpitude in municipal court, for example, shoplifting, and multiple convictions of this kind can get you deported so it is important to hire an experienced attorney.
If your Edison criminal matter is being heard at the Middlesex County Superior Court, then it is possible for a single conviction to compromise your immigration status if it is considered an aggravated felony (i.e. possession of cocaine, distribution of CDS, aggravated assault, etc.). Securing a dismissal, downgrade or Pretrial Intervention is imperative if you are facing an aggravated felony arising in Edison NJ. Our NJ criminal defense lawyers are highly experienced and have a long record of success that you can rely on.
The Township of Edison is the most populated municipality in Middlesex County so it is makes sense that it also has some of the highest statistics for criminal and motor vehicle charges. This is a primary reason why our NJ defense firm chose to establish an office there and hire an attorney who was a prosecutor in the municipality.
You will note from the statistics above that there are ‘indictables” that are also filed in Edison. What we are referring to are crimes of the first, second, third and fourth degree. A criminal charge falling within one of these four grades is considered a felony and can only be heard at the 
