Michael J. DeMarco

michael-demarco3

Practice Areas

  • Criminal Law

  • Union Law/ Labor Law

  • Education Law

  • Civil Rights Defense

  • Immigration Law

Education

  • William Paterson College, Wayne, NJ

    B.A. Economics - 1990

  • New England School of Law, Boston, MA

    • J.D. - 1993

Mike's Biography

Michael J. DeMarco enjoyed a 26-year career with the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office. He rose through the ranks to become Deputy First Assistant Prosecutor in 2015, where he supervised all the special investigative units. Prior to that, he was the Chief Assistant Prosecutor of the Major Crimes Unit, where he oversaw hundreds of homicide and vehicular homicide investigations. Mr. DeMarco was the legal advisor to the Paterson Police Cease Fire Unit. His duties also included the investigation of all police-involved shootings.

Mr. DeMarco was the former Director of the Passaic County Narcotics Task Force. There he supervised teams of detectives and prosecutors who successfully seized hundreds of kilos of cocaine, heroin, and crystal meth, as well as the seizure of in excess of a million dollars in drug proceeds.

Mr. DeMarco has extensive experience as a trial attorney in complex criminal matters. This experience has allowed him to become a Certified Criminal Trial Attorney by the New Jersey Supreme Court. This designation is held by approximately 3% of all New Jersey Attorneys.

In 2018, Mr. DeMarco was honored by the County Prosecutors Association of New Jersey with the Outstanding Advocacy Over A Career Award.

Mr. DeMarco believes in giving back to the profession by teaching younger attorneys criminal trial skills. He is an instructor with the New Jersey Attorney General’s Advocacy Institute; is a Certified Police Instructor, and has lectured throughout New Jersey on Strict Liability Drug Induced Death as part of the New Jersey Attorney General’s Heroin and Opiate Task Force Initiative. 

Mr. DeMarco has taught at the college level for more than two decades. He is currently an adjunct professor at William Paterson University and a doctoral lecturer at Queensborough Community College/CUNY, both in their respective criminal justice programs. 

Mr. DeMarco previously was a participant in the New Jersey State Bar Foundation Speaker’s Bureau. He has lectured at Passaic County Technical High School, Paterson Public Schools, West Milford Schools, Dover High School, Newark Public Schools, and Essex Academy High School.

Michael J. DeMarco is a graduate of William Paterson College and New England School of Law. He has also completed the Civil Trial Litigation Program of the Justice Clifford American Inn of Court. He recently achieved an Advanced Certificate in Immigration Law from the City University of New York.

Bar Admissions

  • New Jersey, 1993

Professional Bar Associations

  • Passaic County Bar Association

    Member

Past Positions

Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office

  • Deputy First Assistant 

    2015 to 2019

  • Chief Assistant Major Crimes Unit 

    2012 to 2015

  • Director, Narcotics Task Force

    2008 to 2012

  • Senior Assistant Homicide Unit 

    2003 to 2008

  • Senior Assistant Trial Unit

    1996 to 2003

  • Assistant Juvenile and DV Unit 

    1994 to 1996

  • Hon. Ronald G. Marmo, J.S.C. - Judicial Law Clerk

    1993 to 1994

Presentations

  • Search Warrant and CDW Update 2011

  • Drug Monitoring Initiative 2014-2016

  • U.S. Marshals Service, Cell Site Simulator, 2015

  • Use of Force and Policing Summit, 2015

  • Bar Association Criminal Law Symposium, 2016

  • Investigators Training Seminar, 2017

Languages

  • English