Put a Former Prosecutor
On Your Side
About Our Law Firm
Individuals facing charges deserve to partner with an aggressive criminal lawyer who will formulate an assertive defense. At Weinstock Defense, we believe that the best approach to criminal defense is a proactive one. If you’re charged with a crime, we won’t wait for prosecutors or courts to decide your fate; instead, we will investigate and critique the evidence against you in order to identify weaknesses in their case.
Our firm was originally founded by Joseph A. Levin (now a New Jersey Superior Court Judge), Ed Weinstock, and Kirsten Levin in Atlantic City, NJ. We work as a team, partnering with experts and experienced investigators to zealously represent clients.
Criminal Lawyer Providing Comprehensive Representation
To Clients In South Jersey & Beyond
Attorney Biographies
Ed Weinstock
Ed Weinstock is the managing partner of Weinstock Defense. Mr. Weinstock began his legal career at the highly esteemed firm of McCarter & English in Newark, New Jersey where he practiced until 2005. Mr. Weinstock also practiced at Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf in their New York and Princeton offices in the area of general litigation until 2007. Mr. Weinstock then left private practice to join the ranks at the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, where he tried numerous cases to verdict including cases involving aggravated assault, robbery, drug distribution, theft and domestic violence. Mr. Weinstock left the Union County Prosecutor’s Office in 2009 to start his own firm, Weinstock & Associates, a criminal defense firm located in Atlantic City.
For over 15 years Mr. Weinstock has represented clients in all areas involving criminal law. As a defense attorney Mr. Weinstock has tried numerous cases to verdict including murder, attempted murder, sex assault, robbery, drug distribution, aggravated assault, voter fraud and other white-collar offenses.
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Trial Victories
As a trial attorney, Mr. Weinstock has tried more than 30 jury trials to verdict. For example, in State v. A.S. Mr. Weinstock was able to procure a not guilty verdict for his client who was charged with murder, carjacking and robbery, arising from an alleged robbery/carjacking. Similarly, in State v. R.O. Mr. Weinstock was able to procure a hung jury for a client who was charged with murder arising from an alleged drug deal. Ultimately the State decided to dismiss the murder charges.
In another case, State v. T.D., alleging Election Fraud, Mr. Weinstock was able to obtain a not guilty verdict for his client on numerous counts of election fraud arising from the 2009 race for Atlantic City mayor. In addition to aggressively defending the criminally accused, Mr. Weinstock also provides quality representation in related matters, such as representing plaintiffs and defendants in domestic violence matters (e.g., restraining order hearings, contempt hearings) and gun forfeiture and denial proceedings. Finally, Mr. Weinstock also provides quality representation to civil servants in disciplinary hearings.
Accolades
In March 2014, Mr. Weinstock was Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Criminal Trial Attorney and recently in 2019, the Supreme Court granted his Recertification. Based upon his skills and reputation as a trial attorney, every year from 2018 to present, Mr. Weinstock has been named as New Jersey Super Lawyers in the area of criminal defense by New Jersey Monthly Magazine, a distinction bestowed on less than five percent of the attorneys in New Jersey. Prior to being named a Super Lawyers, Ed was named a New Jersey Super Lawyers – Rising Star also in the area of criminal defense for five consecutive years from 2012 through 2016.**
Professional Associations
In addition to aggressively representing the law firm’s clients, Mr. Weinstock has prioritized professionalism and ethics. Mr. Weinstock was appointed as a member of the Supreme Court of New Jersey’s District I Fee Arbitration Committee. Additionally, Mr. Weinstock has been on the executive board of the Atlantic County Bar Association since 2018, and he served as the President of the Bar Association from 2022 to 2023.
* Results may vary depending upon your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Attorney Résumé
Past Positions
Union County Prosecutor’s Office, Assistant Prosecutor, 2007 to 2009
Windels, Marx, Lane & Mittendorf, Associate, 2005 to 2007
McCarter & English, Associate, 2004 to 2005
Honorable Roger M. Kahn, J.T.C. (Ret), Law Clerk, 2003 to 2004)
Education
Seton Hall University School of Law, Newark, New Jersey
J.D. – 2003
Honors: Merit-Based Scholarship
Rutgers College, New Brunswick, New Jersey
B.A. – 1999
Major: Economics
Professional Associations
Atlantic County Bar Association, Trustee, 2012 to 2018
Atlantic County Bar Association, Executive Board, 2018 to Present
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Atlantic County Municipal Defense Attorneys Association
Supreme Court of New Jersey District I Fee Arbitration Committee
Certified Legal Specialities
Certified Criminal Trial Attorney, New Jersey Supreme Court, 2014
Bar Admissions
New Jersey
New York
U.S. District Court District of New Jersey
U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York
HONORS
Named to the Super Lawyers list, 2018-2023
Named to the Super Lawyers Rising Stars list in Criminal Defense, 2012 – 2016
Kirsten A. Levin
Kirsten Levin is a partner at Weinstock Defense. Prior to that, Ms. Levin was a co-founding member and partner of Levin Pisetzner Levin and Weinstock Levin. Ms. Levin concentrates her practice on representing persons accused of criminal and quasi-criminal offenses in the Federal, State and Municipal Courts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Ms. Levin has successfully assisted in the representation of the criminally accused in the New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and federal courts, in cases in which acquittals or dismissals were secured for clients charged with offenses such as murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, aggravated sexual assault, carjacking, robbery, gun offenses, drug distribution and possession, casino crimes, and driving while intoxicated. In addition to aggressively defending the criminally accused, Ms. Levin also assisted in providing quality representation in related matters, such as representing plaintiffs and defendants in domestic violence matters (e.g., restraining order hearings, contempt hearings) and gun forfeiture and denial proceedings. In that regard, Ms. Levin volunteers her time to the Superior Court of New Jersey, Atlantic County Pro Bono Domestic Violence Program. Furthermore, Ms. Levin has vast experience in representing persons and entities in civil litigation.
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Background
Prior to working as a partner in the above-law firms, Ms. Levin served as a lawyer in the Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the Post-Conviction Relief Unit, where she was responsible for providing procedural and substantive opinions on the post-conviction relief applications filed. Before that, Ms. Levin served as an assistant defender at the Defender Association of Philadelphia, during which time she successfully represented the criminally accused in preliminary hearings, bail hearings, violation of probation hearings, motion hearings, and trials.
Experience
In addition to her experience as a criminal litigator, Ms. Levin practiced as an attorney at GMAC Mortgage, where she focused exclusively upon employment litigation involving wrongful termination, employment discrimination, sexual harassment, and hostile work environment matters. Previously, Ms. Levin was an associate at Nugent, Fitzgerald, McGroarty & McFadden, P.A., where she was involved in every facet of civil litigation.
Ms. Levin had the privilege of serving as a law clerk for the Honorable Carol E. Higbee, Pr.J.Civ., where she researched issues, drafted memoranda, and recommended dispositions in civil litigation cases. Prior to her clerkship, Ms. Levin was selected as a judicial intern for the Honorable L. Anthony Gibson, J.S.C. (ret.) in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division and the Honorable Phillip A. Gruccio, J.S.C. (ret.) in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division. During her internships, Ms. Levin reviewed judicial opinions prior to publication and researched and wrote judicial memoranda.
Ms. Levin is admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey and all state courts in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Attorney Résumé
Practice Areas
Crimes (Homicide, Assault, Guns, Drugs, Casino Crimes, Domestic Violence)
Juvenile Defense (All Crimes, Offenses, Waiver Hearings, School Hearings)
Pretrial Intervention and Diversionary Programs, including Veterans Court
Disorderly Persons and Petty Offenses (Disorderly Conduct, Underage Gambling)
Traffic Offenses (DWI/ DUI, Driving Suspended, Leaving the Scene of an Accident)
Domestic Violence Matters (Plaintiff and Defendant Restraining Orders, Contempt)
Gun Cases (Illegal Possession, Forfeiture Hearings, Permit Denial Appeals)
Past Positions
Levin Weinstock Levin, Atlantic City, NJ, Partner (June 2019 – present)
Levin Pisetzner Levin, Atlantic City, NJ, Partner (June 2016 – June 2019)
Law Offices of Joseph A. Levin, LLC, Atlantic City, NJ, Partner (July 2006 – June 2016)
Levant, Martin, Tauber & Levin, P.C., Atlantic City, NJ, Of Counsel (October 2002 – June 2006)
GMAC Mortgage, Horsham, PA, Staff Attorney (October 1999 – October 2000)
Court of Common Pleas, Post-Conviction Relief Unit, Philadelphia, PA, Staff Attorney
Defender Association of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, Assistant Public Defender (September 1998 – September 1999)
Nugent, Fitzgerald, McGroarty & McFadden, P.A., Linwood, NJ, Associate (September 1994 – September 1998)
Honorable Carol E. Higbee, Superior Court of New Jersey, Atlantic County, NJ, Judicial Law Clerk/ Civil Law Division (September 1993 – September 1994)
Honorable L. Anthony Gibson, Superior Court of New Jersey, Atlantic County, NJ, Judicial Law Intern/ Chancery Division (January 1993 – May 1993)
Honorable Philip A. Gruccio, Superior Court of New Jersey, Atlantic County, NJ, Judicial Law Intern/ Appellate Division (June 1992 – August 1992)
Jacobs, Bruso & Barbone, P.A., Atlantic City, NJ, Law Clerk (June 1991 – August 1991)
Education
Widener University School of Law, Wilmington, Delaware
Juris Doctor – 05/1993
Honors: American Jurisprudence Award in Legal Methods (Legal Research and Writing)
Villanova University, Villanova School of Business, Villanova, Pennsylvania
Bachelor of Science – 05/1990
Major: Accounting
Professional Associations
Atlantic County Bar Association, Member (2007 – present)
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member (2019 – present)
New Jersey Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member (2019 – present)
Current Employment Positions
Partner
Bar Admissions
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1994
Supreme Court of New Jersey, 1993
U.S. District Court District of New Jersey, 1993
Honors
American Jurisprudence Award in Legal Methods (Legal Research and Writing)
Honor Grades in Legal Methods; Moot Court; Contracts I; Contracts II