Chesler graduated from Harpur College, now Binghamton University, in 1968, with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and St. John's University School of Law in 1974 with a Juris Doctor.
He was an assistant district attorney in The Bronx from 1974–80, a federal prosecutor at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey from 1980 to 1987, and a United States magistrate judge in New Jersey from 1987 until his appointment as a district judge.
Chelser was nominated by President George W. Bush on January 23, 2002,[1] to a seat vacated by Judge Anne Elise Thompson and was confirmed by the United States Senate on November 14, 2002.
Chesler received his commission on December 4, 2002 and was sworn in thereafter.
The class action lawsuit settlement[2] SULLIVAN, vs. DB Investments is being administered in Chesler's court,[3] and as of April 8, 2013, payout of the $107 million settlement to some 500,000 claimants[4] is pending Chesler's signature.