Criminal Defense Lawyers in Essex County

Criminal Defense Attorneys Skilled at Defending People in the Essex County Superior Court

Under New Jersey law, all criminal charges that the state files against people for offenses that allegedly took place in Essex County fall under the jurisdiction of the Essex County Superior Court. Essentially, there are two ways a criminal case can begin: a grand jury indictment and a criminal complaint.  In most cases, if the police believe a party engaged in illegal activity, they will conduct an investigation. If, after the investigation, they have reasonable cause to believe the individual committed a crime against a property or person, they will file a criminal complaint.

Other times the government will indict a person, which means they will present evidence to a grand jury and ask them to determine if there are sufficient grounds to file criminal charges against the individual. Indictments must set forth the crimes the person is accused of committing and any facts the government relies on in making the allegation. The grand jury will be comprised of citizens who live in the county where the crime allegedly happened.

The Municipal Courts hear cases arising out of lesser non-criminal charges throughout Essex County.

In New Jersey, crimes are classified by degrees. First-degree crimes, which are considered the most egregious, carry penalties of ten to twenty years imprisonment and fines of up to $200,000. Armed robbery is an example of a first-degree crime. Second-degree crimes, like aggravated assault, are less serious than first-degree crimes but nonetheless can result in imprisonment for five to ten years and fines of up to $150,000. Most crimes prosecuted in the Essex County Superior Court are third-degree offenses, such as aggravated assault, that are punishable by three to five years in prison and fines of up to $15,000. Lastly, fourth-degree crimes, including assault, can lead to 18 months in prison and fines of up to $10,000. First, second, third, and fourth-degree crimes are all felonies.

The New Jersey and United States Constitutions afford criminal defendants numerous rights from the onset of the initial investigation through the resolution of the charges against them, including the right to be represented by an attorney at every stage of the proceedings.  While there are many criminal attorneys in Essex County, they do not all possess equal skills and experience, and choosing the right attorney is critical to obtaining a just outcome.  At the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, our assertive criminal attorneys are well-versed in what it takes to achieve favorable results in the Essex County Superior Court, and if you engage our services, we will fight zealously on your behalf. We have multiple attorneys on our staff who previously worked as prosecutors in Essex County, giving them a unique understanding of how the State prosecutes crimes and what arguments are most effective. Criminal charges frequently heard by the Essex County Superior Court include:

• Drug Offenses
• Assault
• Aggravated assault
• Domestic Violence Crimes
• Identity theft
• Fraud
• Weapons charges
• Murder
• Manslaughter
• Burglary
• Shoplifting

Essex County Courthouse and Criminal Divisions

The Essex County Superior Court hears all criminal cases brought within the County. The Court House is located at 50 West Market Street, Newark, NJ 07102. The Judges sitting in the Criminal Division are:

• The Honorable Mark S. Ali, Presiding 
• The Honorable Martin G. Cronin
• The Honorable Harold W. Fullilove, Jr.
• The Honorable John I. Gizzo
• The Honorable Verna G. Leath
• The Honorable Alvin Ricardo Little
• The Honorable Michael A. Petrolle
• The Honorable Michael L. Ravin
• The Honorable Christopher S. Romanyshyn
• The Honorable Marysol Rosero
• The Honorable Siobhan A. Teare
• The Honorable Ronald D. Wigler
• The Honorable Carolyn E. Wright

The contact information for the departments in the Essex County Criminal Division is as follows:

• Criminal Division – 973-776-9300 extension 55932
• Probation – 973-776-9300 extension 53201
• Recovery Court – 973-776-9300 extension 56491
• Central Judicial Processing Court (CJP) – 973-776-9300 extension 56950
• Special Remand Court – 973-776-9300 extension 55997

Essex County Prosecutor’s Office

The objective of law enforcement agents and Essex County prosecutors is to identify and penalize parties that engage in criminal activity. As such, New Jersey typically hires aggressive attorneys who have ample experience fighting crime to work as prosecutors. Prosecutors usually take their jobs seriously and aggressively pursue convictions. It is smart, then, for anyone charged with a crime to hire an equally aggressive criminal defense attorney who will fight to help them protect their interests. Those that cannot afford an attorney still have a constitutional right to legal representation and can seek help from their local office of the public defender.

In order to obtain a guilty verdict in a criminal case in Essex County, a prosecutor must prove each element of the charged offense beyond a reasonable doubt, which is the highest burden of proof. There is no statutory definition for the beyond a reasonable doubt standard, but it is generally understood to mean that the evidence weighs so heavily in favor of the defendant’s guilt that no reasonable person could determine that the defendant is innocent.  While the prosecution must produce ample evidence to prove their position, criminal defendants are not required to submit any evidence or offer any arguments in their defense. They have the right to, though, and in many cases, there are multiple defenses they can assert. The exact defenses available will vary depending on the facts of the case but may include arguments that the defendant’s constitutional rights were violated or that their actions were legally permissible under the circumstances.

The main people working in the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office are:

• Theodore N. Stephens II, Acting Essex County Prosecutor
• Romesh C. Sukhdeo, Acting First Assistant Prosecutor
• Mitchell G. McGuire III, Acting Chief of Detectives
• Thomas S. Fennelly, Chief Assistant Prosecutor
• Roger J. Imhof, Chief Assistant Prosecutor
• Gwendolyn J. Williams, Executive Asst. Prosecutor
• Toni Ann Mattia, Acting Deputy Chief of Detectives
• Paterson Pasteur, Acting Deputy Chief of Detectives
• Nichele Patrick, Acting Deputy Chief of Detectives

Directions to the Essex County Courthouse

From the NJ Turnpike

Take Exit 15W to I-280 West, then follow I-280 West to Exit 14B, which is Martin Luther King Jr., Boulevard. At the bottom of the ramp, turn left onto State Street, then turn left at the next stop sign. Travel down Martin Luther King Jr., Boulevard for about one mile until you reach Essex County College. The Historic Courthouse will be on the left, the Hall of Records will be on the right, and the Veterans Courthouse, which is where criminal hearings are held, is directly behind the Hall of Records.

From the Garden State Parkway

Take the Garden State Parkway to Exit 145, then follow I-280 East to Exit 14A – Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard. At the bottom of the ramp, turn right onto Martin Luther King Jr., Boulevard. Travel down Martin Luther King Jr., Boulevard for about one mile until you reach West Market Street. The Historic Courthouse will be on the left, the Hall of Records will be on the right, and the Veterans Courthouse, which is where criminal hearings are held, is directly behind the Hall of Records.

From the Route 22, 24, 1&9 or I-78

On any of these highways, follow signs for Newark, then take the exit for Route 21-North/McCarter Highway towards Broad Street. Follow Broad Street until you reach Court Street, then make a left. In one block, make a right onto Washington Street, then travel about three blocks and make a left onto Market Street, and bear to the right. Market Street will become West Market Street. When you reach Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, the Historic Courthouse will be on the left, the Hall of Records will be on the right, and the Veterans Courthouse, which is where criminal hearings are held, is directly behind the Hall of Records.

From Bloomfield Avenue

Take Bloomfield Avenue toward Summer Avenue, then turn right onto Summer Avenue. Follow Summer Avenue until you reach 7th Avenue, then turn left, followed by a quick right onto Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. In approximately one mile, you will reach West Market Street. The Historic Courthouse will be on the left, the Hall of Records will be on the right, and the Veterans Courthouse, where criminal hearings are held, is directly behind the Hall of Records.

Criminal Lawyers Helping Individuals Accused of Disorderly Persons Offenses in Essex County

Not all arrests lead to criminal charges. In other words, some people will be accused of disorderly persons offenses rather than felonies.  Disorderly persons offense hearings are handled by the Municipal Courts sitting in the town where the alleged crime occurred rather than the Essex County Superior Court. Disorderly persons charges can arise out of an arrest or the issuance of a summons. While they are considered misdemeanors, which are less serious than felonies, they can still lead to imprisonment and fines. 

At the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, our dedicated Essex County criminal defense attorneys take pride in fighting to help people accused of disorderly persons offenses safeguard their rights. If you hire us, we will diligently pursue the best outcome possible under the facts of your case. Our attorneys have years of collective experience defending people accused of crimes, and we can craft persuasive arguments on your behalf. We represent people charged with a variety of disorderly persons crimes in Essex County, including:

• Trespassing
• Criminal mischief
• Theft
• Vandalism
• Obstructing the administration of justice
• Disorderly conduct
• Harassment
• Simple assault
• Resisting arrest

Our Attorneys Have the Knowledge and Experience Needed to Obtain Successful Verdicts

Disorderly persons charges brought in Essex County will be prosecuted by a municipal prosecutor appointed by the local government and heard by a Municipal Court Judge. Jonathan F. Marshall and the other knowledgeable attorneys from the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall have long-standing relationships with judges, prosecutors, and court staff throughout the Essex County Municipal Courts, which helps us negotiate favorable outcomes for our clients.

Our Services

The dedicated criminal defense attorneys of the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall regularly defend people in the Essex County Superior and Municipal Courts. We aggressively advocate for our clients, regardless of whether they are charged with a traffic violation, a first-degree offense, or anything in between. Our skilled criminal defense attorneys can offer you a free and discrete consultation, where they can inform you of your rights and your options for seeking a good outcome.

Our Qualifications

Essex County has many criminal defense attorneys, but not all possess the skills and qualifications required to obtain good results. Instead of being swayed by flashy advertising tactics or slogans, people who need to hire a criminal defense attorney should focus on results and experience. The capable Essex County, criminal defense attorneys of the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, are skilled at navigating the complexities of criminal cases, and we have a history of achieving good outcomes for our clients in both the Essex County Superior Court and Municipal Courts. We are confident that no other criminal defense attorneys in Essex County possess better qualifications.

Useful Essex County Court Information

The Union County Sherriff’s Office has multiple units and programs, including the Crime Scene Unit, Search and Rescue Unit, Family Violence Unit, and Legal Process Unit. Union County is made up of 21 municipalities, all of which have their own police department.

Essex County Law Inforcement Information

The Essex County Sherriff’s Office has multiple divisions. There are 22 municipalities in Essex County, and they all have their own police departments.