Attorney Profiles

Michael R. Ascher, a partner with the firm, gained extensive trial experience as a Deputy Attorney General in the Division of Criminal Justice and as Assistant Passaic County Prosecutor. He is presently engaged in a litigation practice handling both criminal and complex civil matters. His practice includes all categories of criminal cases, including drunk driving defense cases and matters involving the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS).  He specializes in sex offenses, drug and white collar crimes, computer crime, conspiracy, fraud and theft cases.

Michael has been involved in significant cases on both the trial and Appellate level. He successfully argued before the New Jersey Supreme Court in State v. Dispoto, 189 NJ 108 (2007) that the Domestic Violence Act could not be used as a bootstrap mechanism by the police to obtain evidence to sustain the issuance of a criminal search warrant.  He also developed the trial argument that led the New Jersey Supreme Court to change the manner in which juries are instructed in the prosecution of sex crimes involving children, State v. P.H. 178 NJ378 (2004).

Michael Ascher won a 5-year legal battle before the New Jersey Supreme Court.  He obtained an important Appellate decision in a child abuse and neglect case, NJDYFS v S.S. 372, NJ Super 13 (App. Div. 2004). There, he advocated for the right of an abused wife whose name was wrongfully placed in the DYFS Central Registry.

Michael also serves as a member of the Morris County Criminal Practice Committee.