Bio
Award-Winning Rising Star Attorney
Michael Brett Roberts has believed from an early age that every person accused of a crime deserves a zealous defense. No matter your age, ethnicity, gender, or past, Michael feels you need your attorney fighting for you like they would fight for their own freedom, money, or reputation. Michael believes that good people make mistakes and he believes in second chances.
For the past ten years, he has been honing his craft by taking on tough cases, dealing with difficult judges and prosecutors, and, most importantly, by helping his clients. He has handled matters ranging from domestic violence to possession and distribution of CDS to first-degree murder.
He was honored to be awarded the New Jersey Law Journal New Leaders of the Bar Award in 2015 and 2016, and the Middlesex County Bar 2015 Young Lawyer of the Year. He was recognized as one of the Top 10 Under 40 in New Jersey by the National Academy of Criminal Defense Lawyers in 2016 and has been recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers® for the past four years. Michael has also been featured on local television speaking on gun rights, firearm laws, and bail reform. He has been a featured presenter to other lawyers on various topics throughout New Jersey. Michael proudly serves as a Trustee to the Middlesex County Bar Association, Secretary to the Middlesex County Bar Foundation, Secretary to the New Jersey State Bar Association Criminal Section, Investigator for the Office of Attorney Ethics, and for 11 years was coach to the Rutgers University Mock Trial team, the same university where Michael earned his J.D. and his bachelor’s in political science and philosophy.
Michael has been selected to the New Jersey Super Lawyers Rising Stars list from 2016-2023.
Licenses
- New Jersey 2009
- U.S. District Court District of New Jersey 2009
- New York 2010
Speaking Engagements
- Gun Law In New Jersey, Speaker/Moderator, NJICLE – September 2019
- Criminal Practice: Miranda Hearings, Speaker, Middlesex County Bar Association – November 2018
- Young Lawyers Committee Lunch CLE – November 2018
- The Your Lawyers' Conference – November 2018
- Criminal Motion Practice, Speaker, Middlesex County Bar Association – December 2017
- Gun Permit Law in New Jersey, NJICLE, Speaker – September 2017
- Ethics and Advertising in a time of AVVO, Moderator, Middlesex County Bar Association – December 2016
- Gun Law In New Jersey, Speaker, NBI – December 2016
- Domestic Violence Gun Forfeitures & Applications, Speaker, Middlesex County Bar Association – December 2015
- Criminal Practice 101, Moderator, Middlesex County Bar Association, YLD Breakfast Series – November 2015
- Hanging a Shingle, Middlesex County Bar Association – March 2014
Publications
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Law Review CLE “Social Media and its Effect on Criminal Law” 2011
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"In Addressing the Heroin and Opiate Problem in New Jersey" In Addressing the Heroin and Opiate Problem in New Jersey, the Attorney General has Missed a Valuable Opportunity, The Clarion, Volume 6, Issue 2. 2014
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“Gun Law In New Jersey” published by National Business Institute 2017
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Jury Verdict Jury verdict of Not Guilty on both counts of 1st Degree Aggravated Manslaughter and 2nd Degree Vehicular Homicide 2022
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"The Jurisprudence of Bestiality" Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, Journal of Animal and Environmental Law. Vol. 1. Ed.2. 2023
Honors/Awards
- New Jersey State Bar Association – Criminal Law Division
- New Jersey State Bar Association – Young Lawyers Division
- Middlesex County Bar Association – Criminal Law Division
- Somerset County Bar Association
- *2018, 2017, 2016, and 2015 Super Lawyers® – Rising Stars for criminal defense
- 2016 and 2015 New Jersey Law Journal New Leaders of the Bar
- 2015 Middlesex County Young Lawyer of the Year