Benjamin Ostrer | Chester Criminal Defense Lawyer

Benjamin Ostrer was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1977, after graduating from New York Law School. He began his private practice in Orange County, NY in 1986, where today he specializes in complex civil and criminal litigation. Throughout his career, Mr. Ostrer has handled numerous high profile cases. In 2016, he was awarded the NYS Bar Association Criminal Section, “Charles M. Crimi Award” as the outstanding private defense attorney in New York State for his dedication to the practice of law and advocacy for his clients. He has firmly established a reputation as a successful, dedicated Hudson Valley criminal and civil trial lawyer.

Mr. Ostrer represents defendants accused of serious charges – homicide, manslaughter, white-collar offenses, and sexual crimes, including SORA defense – at both the trial and appellate court levels. He also handles civil and personal injury cases in state and federal courts, where he has a record of successful verdicts. His reputation as a skillful appellate lawyer is well deserved. He has numerous cases in the official reports, having obtained reversals on appeal of civil and criminal verdicts, including homicide and other serious crimes, before the NYS Court Appeals and the Appellate Division.

Forensic evidence is his forte and he is widely regarded as an expert in cases involving DNA. Mr. Ostrer’s proficiency in examining forensic evidence led to the vacating of a woman’s plea after ten years in New York State prison. His depth of knowledge on serious brain injury resulted in a not guilty verdict on behalf of a young man accused of shaken baby homicide in 2008. He also obtained a reversal at the Court of Appeals (2000) of a homicide conviction for a young man accused in the death of his girlfriend shortly after the birth of their child.

Mr. Ostrer currently serves as a municipal attorney for the Village of Harriman (1994 – Present). He is also a Director of the Legal Aid Society of Orange County and former President of New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (2013). His work has been recognized by the following professional organizations: AV rated by Martindale Hubbell’s Peer Review Rating system, and 10.0 by Avvo, Super Lawyers Criminal Defense Upstate New York 2009 – 2015; NYSBA Empire Counsel 2008 – 2016.

Position	Organization	Location	Duration
Founder & Senior Partner	Ostrer & Associates, P.C.	Chester, NY	Present

School	Degree	Major	Graduation
New York Law School	J.D.	Law School	1976
Alfred University	Bachelors		1973

State / Court	Date
New York	1977

• New York State Bar Association | Member
  National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers | Member
  American Bar Association | Member
  New York State Assn Criminal Defense Lawyers | President | 2013 - 2014
  New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers | President-Elect | 2012 - 2012
  New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers | Vice President | 2011 - 2011

• AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 | Martindale-Hubbell | 2020
  Super Lawyer | SuperLawyers | 2009 - 2020
  Pro Bono Volunteer of the Year 2017 | New York State Bar Association | 2018
  Charles F. Crimi Memorial Award | New York State Bar Association | 2016
  Empire State Counsel | New York State Bar Association | 2008

• Kurtzman v. Shapiro
  Reversed and vacated Appellate Division 2nd Dept.

• People v. Victor
  Reversal; Appellate Division 3rd Dept. of conviction new trial ordered.

• Jenack v. Rabizadeh
  Reversal by Appellate Division 2nd Dept.

• People v. Conklin
  Charges Dismissed.

• Mayer v. Mayer
  Appellate Division 2nd Dept. Affirmed favorable decision of trial court.

• Atticus (NYSACDL) | Crime Lab Failures; A look behind the Curtain | 2012
  Spring 2010 ATTICUS vol 22 number 1 | DNA Not Just for Identification Anymore | 2010

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• Benjamin Ostrer
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