Bloomfield Criminal Defense Lawyer

Bloomfield Criminal Defense Lawyer

You got arrested in Bloomfield last week, maybe a traffic stop on Broad Street turned into a DWI charge, maybe disorderly conduct outside a bar on Bloomfield Avenue, maybe shoplifting at the Garden State Plaza, and the summons says Tuesday 8:30 AM at 1 Municipal Plaza – Bloomfield Municipal Court – and you don’t know what comes next because the summons lists a court date, Tuesday or Thursday at 8:30 AM, sometimes Wednesday at 6 PM, and Bloomfield Municipal Court sits at 1 Municipal Plaza, the 3rd largest municipal court in Essex County, 16th largest in New Jersey, it’s a busy court where you walk in, check in with the clerk, join other defendants waiting in the courtroom, and when your name gets called you step forward because first appearance goes fast – judge reads the charges, disorderly persons offense, simple assault, possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal mischief, DWI, shoplifting under $200, these charges stay in Bloomfield Municipal Court, not felonies, those get kicked to Superior Court in Newark where municipal court handles what New Jersey classifies as disorderly persons offenses, what other states call misdemeanors, while anything more serious like aggravated assault with a weapon, drug distribution, burglary, theft over $500, gets presented to a grand jury and prosecuted in Newark if indicted, and judge asks: do you have an attorney, and if no, judge explains the options – plead guilty, not guilty, request a public defender if you qualify financially based on income requirements – most people don’t plead guilty at first appearance, they enter a not guilty plea, preserve their rights, get a new court date set for either a pretrial conference or trial, and that period between first appearance and your next court date, that’s your window to get representation, review the evidence, build a defense strategy because between first appearance and your next date the prosecutor’s office – Essex County prosecutors handle Bloomfield cases – reviews everything, police reports, witness statements, video if there is any, they decide: plea offer, PTI recommendation for first-timers, push for jail time, you don’t want to walk into that negotiation alone, and Bloomfield Municipal Court handles what New Jersey calls disorderly persons offenses like marijuana possession under 50 grams, simple assault, harassment, obstruction, disorderly conduct, shoplifting under $200, DWI charges, traffic tickets with court sessions running three times weekly and penalties lighter compared to Superior Court – typically fines, probation, short jail sentences for repeat offenders – but indictable offenses go to Essex County Superior Court at the Veterans Courthouse in Newark for charges like aggravated assault with a weapon, drug distribution, robbery, burglary, theft over $500, sexual assault, these cases don’t stay local, they get presented to a grand jury, indictment, Superior Court proceedings with prison time on the table.

Thanks for visiting Spodek Law Group – a second-generation law firm managed by Todd Spodek. We’ve represented clients in Essex County criminal cases for over 40 years, many, many cases in Bloomfield Municipal Court and the Veterans Courthouse in Newark. If you’re reaching out to us – we understand the pressure you’re under.

Why does this matter to you? Superior Court means different prosecutors, different judges, different procedures with the Essex County criminal division operating out of Newark where cases move slower through grand jury presentations, discovery fights, motion practice while municipal court is faster, more informal, though Superior Court requires serious defense experience. Take shoplifting – steal 0 from a store on Bloomfield Avenue, that’s municipal court, probably PTI-eligible if it’s your first offense, but steal 0, that’s third-degree theft, indictable, you’re heading to Newark, same conduct, different dollar amount, entirely different system.

What You’re Facing

First-time disorderly persons offense in Bloomfield, no prior record, this is probably PTI-eligible where Pretrial Intervention suspends prosecution while you complete requirements: community service, counseling for drug-related charges, restitution if there’s a victim, complete PTI successfully and charges dismissed, no conviction on your record with Essex County approving most PTI applications for first-time non-violent disorderly persons offenses.

PTI isn’t automatic, isn’t guaranteed – prosecutor has to agree to your entry into the program, judge has to approve your application, your attorney, ideally former Essex County prosecutors who know which arguments work with specific prosecutors and judges, files the PTI application, negotiates with the prosecutor’s office, appears at the hearing to advocate for your acceptance, get rejected for PTI and you’re heading to trial or negotiating a guilty plea to the original charge with all the record implications that entails.

Second offense, third offense – PTI is gone, now you’re looking at real penalties, DWI second offense means mandatory two-year license suspension, 48 hours to 90 days jail, IDRC classes, ignition interlock, disorderly conduct second offense means up to six months jail, fines up to $1,000, judges in Bloomfield impose these sentences regularly and criminal record implications mean conviction shows up on background checks, employers see it, landlords see it, licensing boards see it, immigration consequences for non-citizens where even minor convictions can trigger removal, this is why fighting or securing PTI matters.

Former Essex County prosecutors know Bloomfield Municipal Court procedures, know which prosecutors negotiate, know Veterans Courthouse judges and their PTI preferences because they’ve worked both sides in these courtrooms. At Spodek Law Group our attorneys have handled many, many Essex County cases, some made national headlines, Netflix series, high-profile federal prosecutions, but most work happens in municipal courts like Bloomfield handling DWI, drug possession, assault, shoplifting, the cases affecting regular people every day.

Call 212-300-5196.