Business Details
Experienced New Jersey Criminal Defense Attorney
The Law Office of Michael Pastacaldi is a dedicated criminal defense practice with deep expertise in post-conviction relief, expungements, and criminal defense litigation. With over two decades of experience, our firm has successfully overturned wrongful convictions, secured critical jail credit adjustments, and protected clients from deportation through strategic legal advocacy. Our founder, Michael Pastacaldi, combines hands-on courtroom experience as a former public defender and law clerk with a commitment to personalized client communication, offering after-hours appointments and direct attorney access.We specialize in complex post-conviction motions, DNA evidence reanalysis, and immigration-impacting conviction vacatur, serving clients across New Jersey's municipal and superior courts. Our practice emphasizes transparency, timely responsiveness, and aggressive representation tailored to each client's unique circumstances.
Services
Criminal Defense
Post-Conviction Relief
Expungements
DUI Defense
Domestic Violence
Drug Crimes
Assault Crimes
Weapons Charges
Theft & Fraud
Traffic Violations
Highlights and features
- We offer 20+ years of specialized post-conviction relief experience in New Jersey courts
- Our founder secured national recognition for overturning a 17-year wrongful conviction
- We provide direct attorney communication and after-hours appointment availability
- Our practice successfully handles immigration-impacting conviction vacatur cases
- We combine public defender experience with personalized case strategy development
What people say
Aggressive representation
Successful exoneration
Direct attorney access
Immigration case victories
Timely communication
Services
Post-Conviction Relief
Post-conviction relief (PCR) services challenge unconstitutional convictions through legal motions to vacate pleas or sentences. Our firm specializes in uncovering ineffective counsel claims, newly discovered evidence, and immigration consequence advisement failures. With proven success overturning wrongful convictions and securing deportation prevention outcomes, we provide comprehensive PCR strategy development and court representation across New Jersey.
Criminal Defense
Criminal defense representation covers DUI, drug crimes, assault charges, and other criminal matters in New Jersey courts. Our approach combines courtroom experience with strategic plea negotiation, focusing on minimizing sentencing impacts and protecting future opportunities through evidence-based defense strategies tailored to each client's circumstances.
Expungement Services
Expungement services help clients clear criminal records to improve employment and immigration prospects. We navigate New Jersey's complex expungement laws to determine eligibility and execute petition processes for sealing qualifying offenses, with particular expertise in cases involving immigration consequences and employment barriers.
Immigration Legal Support
Immigration legal support focuses on vacating convictions that threaten deportation status. Our firm specializes in post-conviction motions to overturn pleas where immigration consequences weren't properly advised, successfully preventing deportations and enabling legal status adjustments for non-citizen clients across New Jersey.
Public Defender Representation
Public defender representation includes handling municipal court cases and appointed defense matters in Hudson, Monmouth, and Ocean Counties. We provide the same rigorous defense approach to court-appointed cases as private matters, ensuring constitutional rights protection and fair legal process for all clients regardless of financial circumstances.
People
Michael Pastacaldi
Owner/Attorney
Former New Jersey Superior Court law clerk with 20+ years criminal defense experience. Achieved national recognition for overturning a 17-year wrongful rape conviction through DNA evidence. Serves as public defender in multiple counties while maintaining private practice focused on post-conviction relief and immigration-impacting cases.
Questions
What post-conviction relief options exist for wrongful convictions?
We file PCR motions based on ineffective counsel, newly discovered evidence, or unadvised immigration consequences. Our success includes overturning a 17-year wrongful rape conviction through DNA retesting and securing deportation prevention outcomes.
How can expungement help with employment prospects?
Expungement seals criminal records from public view, helping clients overcome employment barriers. We evaluate eligibility based on offense type, sentencing completion, and criminal history to execute New Jersey's expungement process.
What differentiates your DUI defense approach?
Our DUI defense challenges evidence admissibility, field sobriety test validity, and breathalyzer accuracy. We leverage courtroom experience to negotiate reduced charges or dismissal while addressing potential immigration consequences.
Do you handle immigration-related criminal cases?
Yes, we specialize in vacating convictions that threaten deportation status. Our success includes overturning drug offense convictions where immigration consequences weren't properly advised during plea negotiations.
What are your office hours and communication policies?
We offer after-hours appointments and direct attorney communication. Cases receive individualized attention with timely responses to client inquiries about case status or legal strategy development.
Reviews (6)
Nora Donahue
Jan 03, 2022
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Positive:Professionalism,Quality,Responsiveness,Value
Mr. Pastcaldi is a wonderful lawyer. He went out of his way to address my concerns and make sure that all of my questions were answered. He provided very helpful and trustworthy legal guidance, and I felt well-taken care of the whole time. He met all of my legal needs, and I will recommend him to others time and time again!
Mr. Pastcaldi is a wonderful lawyer. He went out of his way to address my concerns and make sure that all of my questions were answered. He provided very helpful and trustworthy legal guidance, and I felt well-taken care of the whole time. He met all of my legal needs, and I will recommend him to others time and time again!
Victor Morton
Dec 15, 2021
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I have been working with Mr. Pastacaldi, for over 2 years and in that time. He is attentive, Responsive, and Professional. No I can call him 3-4x a day and he does not differ from my questions and is always helpful to my questions at the time. I would highly recommend, Michael as needed to anyone who is in search of a Lawyer in the area.
Jessie Alvarado
Oct 03, 2021
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Positive:Professionalism,Quality,Responsiveness,Value
Amazing lawyer! He did everything he needed to do plus more to help me out with my case. I would recommend him anytime. Anytime I needed him he was available, every time I ask him a question he was very knowledgeable. I would use him a hundred times over if I ever needed him again.
Amazing lawyer! He did everything he needed to do plus more to help me out with my case. I would recommend him anytime. Anytime I needed him he was available, every time I ask him a question he was very knowledgeable. I would use him a hundred times over if I ever needed him again.
Eslam Kouta
Oct 02, 2021
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Horrible experience. Very bad way to treat his clients. A lot of unmet promises and false information. He is all talk and does nothing once he receives his money. I paid his retainer in full and he didnt do anything to help my case. I had a few evidence to support my case and he used none of it, just to go on trial and ask for more money! Definitely not recommended, do not waste your money! And your time
Richard Gubitosi
Sep 18, 2021
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Positive:Professionalism
I have benefited from Mr. Pastacaldi's legal advice on multiple occasions. He promptly responds to my questions. I find him to be professional, dependable, and thorough. I recommend him as a dogged legal advocate.
I have benefited from Mr. Pastacaldi's legal advice on multiple occasions. He promptly responds to my questions. I find him to be professional, dependable, and thorough. I recommend him as a dogged legal advocate.
Brendan Thomas
Sep 17, 2021
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Positive:Professionalism,Quality,Responsiveness,Value
Mr. Pastacaldi provided me expert legal counsel, answering every question I had and helping me to solve my problem in a timely manner. He's friendly, courteous and professional, and clearly cares about his clients.
Mr. Pastacaldi provided me expert legal counsel, answering every question I had and helping me to solve my problem in a timely manner. He's friendly, courteous and professional, and clearly cares about his clients.
