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Michael R. Casale
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Judge Casale represents clients in mediations, arbitrations, and settlement conferences, and serves as a court-appointed discovery master in family and civil cases. He is qualified by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a R.1:40 mediator and is admitted to the rosters of Civil Mediators and Mediators for Economic Aspects of Family Law Cases for Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex and Union counties.

Judge Casale has extensive experience in the areas of family law, personal injury and insurance defense, which he brings to bear in his representation of clients in complex family and civil disputes, including malpractice and employment litigation matters. His practice also encompasses consultation and trial strategy in child custody, relocation, child support and domestic violence matters. 

Judge Casale retired from the New Jersey Judiciary in 2016 following over 20 years of service as a Superior Court Judge in Essex County, serving at the trial court level in the Criminal (1996 – 2008), Civil (2008 – 2011) and Family (2011 – 2016) Divisions. During his long judicial career, he presided over a death penalty case, numerous gang and drug trials, negligence cases, medical and legal malpractice lawsuits, employment discrimination matters, commercial litigations, product liability claims, and a wide range of family law cases. 

Prior to his service on the bench, Judge Casale represented clients as a litigator in private practice, representing numerous New Jersey municipalities in personal injury defense matters and handling litigation matters for insurance company clients.

Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

Bar Admissions

  • New Jersey, 1981
  • U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, 1981
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, 1981

Education

  • Seton Hall University School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 1981
  • University of Connecticut, B.A., cum laude, 1978

Recognition

  • Recipient of the 2026 Eugene D. Serpentelli Award from the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Family Law Section, in recognition of extraordinary contributions to the development of family law in New Jersey
  • Recipient of the 2018 Alumnus of the Year Award from the Bloomfield Educational Foundation, in recognition of distinguished professional achievement
  • Recipient of the Peter J. Rodino Award while attending law school
  • Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rated AV Preeminent (a trademark of Internet Brands, Inc.)

Please visit our Award Methodology page for a description of the standard or methodology on which these accolades are based. Attorney Advertising: No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Clerkships

  • Former law clerk to The Honorable Nicholas J. Scalera

Memberships

  • New Jersey State Bar Association: Family Law Section, Executive Committee; Cannabis and Psychedelics Law Special Committee; Membership Committee
  • Essex County Bar Association
  • Barry Croland Family Law American Inn of Court
  • Brennan-Vanderbilt American Inn of Court

Committees

  • Essex County Security and Facilities Committee (past Chairman)
  • Essex County Judicial Pension and Salary Committee (past Member)

Other Activities

  • Township of Bloomfield Assistant Township Attorney (1991-1995)
  • Township of Bloomfield Councilman (1985-1990)

Of Interest