Criminal Defense

The New Jersey criminal and municipal court defense lawyers at Lubiner, Schmidt & Palumbo have decades of experience successfully representing our clients across the state. We pride ourselves on providing the highest level of representation while keeping our fees reasonable. We have a proven record of success and our reviews across multiple legal and social platforms is a testament to the effort we put into each case.

As you research options for representation, you may come across many criminal and municipal court defense lawyers’ sites. Don’t get sucked in by slogan-based headlines. See who give you the time, who listens to your case and concerns, who picks up the phone and gives you an opportunity to get it all off your chest. Do your due diligence and find the right fit. A great picture and a catchy slogan do not equal great results.

If you have been arrested and charged with a crime or disorderly persons offense, under investigation, or charged with a traffic violation or DWI, we will do everything possible to get our best result. Sometimes this may mean going to trial. However, in many instances negotiations lead to a plea bargain. Plea bargains work as long as they work for you. In other cases, we can negotiate pre-trial dismissals. We leverage our best results by making sure that we create the best defense possible to the charge. This is done by making sure that the State produces all of the information that you are entitled to and challenging the admissibility of evidence. This is done by developing defense based both on fact and procedure. Preparing for trial, even if it does not occur, shows the prosecutor that you are prepared and ready. It also exposed the weaknesses in the State’s case. This, in our opinion, will lead to the most informed end result, because you will have all the information you need to make the best choice. If that choice is trial, you will have a good idea of the strengths and weaknesses of the State’s case and, as a result, a realistic expectation of your trial outcome. If the result is a plea bargain, you can be rest assured that we are negotiating from an informed and strong as possible position. It is certainly possible that all this preparation before the final resolution can lead to the dismissal of your case. It depends on the facts of the case and the procedural deficiencies in connection with your arrest or charge.

Our Firm has achieved high levels of outcome success across the spectrum of all criminal and municipal court cases, including traffic related offenses such as DWI. These areas include;

There are two main type of CDS related offenses, possession and distribution/sale/manufacture. As one may guess, distribution related CDS offenses are typically more severe and carry higher possible penalties. In addition, if one has prior convictions for CDS related distribution arrest, a subsequent conviction could lead to mandatory state prison with significant periods of parole ineligibility. Our Firm has helped countless clients navigate this very difficult road. There is no give up in what we do and we will keep pushing until there is nothing left, and then go a little further.

The same holds true for our possession of CDS clients. The country is fighting a different kind of pandemic, especially as it related to opiate bases narcotics, CDS and prescription pills. Drugs such as oxycodone, heroin, fentanyl, Xanax, hydrocodone, and Vicodin are among the many. In addition, marijuana is still illegal in New Jersey unless validly purchased through a dispensary with a medical marijuana card. Cocaine possession for recreational use and distribution is still common. We have handled them all and we have gotten results.

If you are facing a CDS related drug offense, the New Jersey Drug Crime attorneys at our firm are ready to help.

Assault related crimes and offenses are penalized generally under N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1. Assault is a serious charge, even when charged as a disorderly persons offense. The appearance of an assault conviction on your criminal record will raise lots of red flags. Aggravated assault arrest is typically a Third-Degree crime, but are frequently charged as Second-Degree offenses in more serious situations. In our experience, these cases are heavily dependent on the facts and eyewitness testimony. We have had great success defending against both simple assault and aggravated assault charges.

Shoplifting, theft by unlawful taking, theft of movable property, receiving stolen property, theft by deception and many others fall under N.J.S.A. 2C:20-1 et al. Once again, a theft related conviction on your record will undoubtedly have long lasting consequences. In particular, I have found that nurses, teaches, and other State and government licensed professionals may face particularly harsh consequences. We have experience handling all types of theft related offenses. Our municipal and superior court win rates are great.

Temporary and Final restraining Orders, harassment, assault, terroristic threats, stalking and criminal mischief are just a few or the offenses related to domestic violence related charges and arrest. Sexual assault is also a frequent accusation against those charges with domestic violence crimes. Our firm has the unique prospective of representing clients on both sides. We have won for the accused and the victims. This, in our opinion, gives us a keener insight into a winning strategy. These are complicated, emotionally charged situations. Having a lawyer who is there for your and listens when you need an ear is important, as is the best strategy help your case succeed.

We consider the lawyers at our firm to be some of the best municipal court and DWI lawyer in the state. Realistically, this may the only court that most of us ever see. For that reason, our lawyers understand that helping clients facing traffic violations, both minor and serious, and all misdemeanor disorderly persons offenses, is a real focus for our firm. These courts are high volume and non-uniform in their application of the law and plea bargaining. Unfortunately, these courts can be personality driven by the “player” involved. It is imperative in our opinion that there is a familiarity with those court and how they work. Many of our reviews are from clients we represented in municipal court. This is because we provide high level of representation for very reasonable legal fees.

Gun charges, particularly unlawful possession without a carry permit, is a very serious charge. The Graves Act is a sentencing provision that makes the most benign mistake in transporting a handgun a crime the carries a mandatory state prison sentence of minimally 42 months. That’s right. Simply having a gun in your glove compartment unloaded could lead to that consequence even with no prior record. With the stakes so high, getting all the information to make your best decision for representation is imperative. Let us provide you with that information. We will give you the information to ask the right questions when interviewing criminal defense lawyers.

In addition to the above, our firm has represented clients in almost all criminal, municipal, and traffic related matters. We have team of lawyer dedicated to this area of the law only. If you need information or have questions, there is no time like the present. Getting informed it the first step to making the right decision.