Welcome to

The law office of Dennis S. Cleary

Many people wait until it’s too late to hire an attorney. Hiring an experienced criminal defense attorney can sometimes prevent criminal charges from ever being filed. If you are already charged with a crime, a potential conviction could be devastating. Penalties can range from fines to a period of incarceration. No one should fight criminal charges alone. Hire an experienced criminal trial attorney to safeguard you through the perils of a criminal prosecution.

About

Dennis S. Cleary

Mr. Cleary received his Bachelor’s Degree from Providence College where he played Big East basketball for the prestigious 1997 Elite Eight team. He received his J.D. from Seton Hall Law School in Newark, New Jersey. Following a judicial clerkship, he developed his craft at the Essex County Public Defender’s Office. From there, he has gone on to develop a successful law practice, recently moving to West Orange, New Jersey. He has handled all types of cases ranging from disorderly persons offenses to homicides. In addition, Mr. Cleary has handled hundreds of DWI cases and has lectured on the topic at New Jersey’s Continuing Legal Education seminar.

Mr. Cleary is admitted to the Supreme Court of New Jersey, the United States District Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. In 2017, he was appointed by the NJ Supreme Court to the Fee Arbitration Committee. In 2018, He was elected trustee of the New Jersey Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He has been named one of Essex County’s Top Criminal Defense Lawyers by Morris Essex Health magazine. In addition, Mr. Cleary has been selected to Super Lawyers Magazine every year since 2017.

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Dennis S. Cleary

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Questions?

FAQs

Do I need a lawyer? The cop that charged me told me not to get one.

Why would you take legal advice from the very person that signed the complaint or summons against you? Law enforcement will typically say this to avoid being challenged in court. For any consequence of magnitude, you should hire an experienced attorney to review the discovery, and consider any possible pre-trial motions and defenses.

Is marijuana still illegal?

The citizens of New Jersey have voted to legalize recreational marijuana for persons over 21 years of age. Specifics, however, such as possession limits, rules for growing and retail regulations still need to be ironed out by the legislature. Technically it remains illegal until that is done…but the writing is on the wall. Check back soon for updates.

The police didn’t read me my rights. Shouldn’t my case get dismissed?

No. The subject of Miranda rights generally becomes an issue if a defendant makes an incriminating statement that the State wants to use at trial. For a confession to be admissible the State has to prove that the defendant knowingly and voluntarily waived his rights.