"The Robing Room: NJ State Judges

Hon. Joseph G. Monaghan	See Rating Details
Superior Court Judge Superior Court
Bergen County Vicinage 2	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 1.4 - 7 rating(s) Non-Attorney Average Rating: 1.0 - 11 rating(s)	Please send me alerts on this judge E-mail Address:

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General Rating Criteria

* Temperament		(1=Awful,10=Excellent)
* Scholarship		(1=Awful,10=Excellent)
* Industriousness		(1=Not at all industrious,10=Highly industrious)
* Ability to Handle Complex Litigation		(1=Awful,10=Excellent)
* Punctuality		(1=Chronically Late,10=Always on Time)
* General Ability to Handle Pre-Trial Matters		(1=Not all Able, 10=Extremely Able)
* General Ability as a Trial Judge		(1=Not all Able, 10=Extremely Able)
Flexibility In Scheduling		(1=Completely Inflexible,10=Very Flexible)

Criminal Rating Criteria (if applicable)

* Evenhandedness in Criminal Litigation		(1=Demonstrates Bias,10=Entirely Evenhanded)
General Inclination Regarding Bail		(1=Pro-Defense,10=Pro-Government)
Involvement in Plea Discussions		(1=Not at all Involved, 10=Very Involved)
General Inclination in Criminal Cases Pretrial Stage		(1=Pro-prosecution,10=Pro-defense)
General Inclination in Criminal Cases Trial Stage		(1=Pro-prosecution,10=Pro-defense)
General Inclination in Criminal Cases Sentencing Stage		(1=Pro-prosecution,10=Pro-defense)

Civil Rating Criteria (if applicable)

* Evenhandedness in Civil Litigation		(1=Not at all Evenhanded,10=Entirely Evenhanded)
Involvement in Settlement Discussions		(1=Not at all Involved,10=Very Involved)
General Inclination		(1=Pro-defendant, 10=Pro-plaintiff)

Comments

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What others have said about Hon. Joseph G. Monaghan

Comments

Litigant

Comment #: NJ5155
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I left his courtroom at 11am today and am still in shock as a pro-se plaintiff. After listening to him berate and bully everyone, including me when I got up there, I decided to ask for an adjournment, hire a lawyer and hopefully file an amended complaint with a higher dollar amount to get my case away from him! Even the lawyers in his courtroom were obviously uncomfortable with his verbal abuse. I read there's a shortage of judges in Bergen County. Anyone know why?

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: NJ5127
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Terrible for all litigant's because he is far more concerned about clearing the calendar than actually providing a litigant with a fair trial.

He regularly and consistently denied litigant's the opportunity to prepare for trial and fails to provide time for discovery. Forces litigants to come to court and beg for the time they are entitled to conduct discovery.

Essentially, he could care less about the parties rights and should be removed.

Other

Comment #: NJ5102
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I recently had a small claims case with this judge.
I had a very clear cut case against the company I was suing. I read the laws regarding my case, and it was clear the defendant performed unauthorized repairs to my car. We had a written estimate from this repair shop (Chrysler of Paramus Service Center-NEVER USE THIS PLACE. SEE PAST REVIEWS!) both in email and texts, which we provided to the judge. The defendant had nothing except a form they scribbled my email down on as "proof" we authorized this repair. There was a second service done on our car we paid for as well, but knew for a fact they did not perform that service.
The judge gave a speech about the defendant having no personal interest in the money, therefore, he had a little more credibility. How that makes a defendant more credible than a plaintiff, I cannot figure that one out. The judge also insinuated we should've had before AND after pictures of the work we knew was never done. Which is ridiculous because we were not preparing to be ripped off when we dropped our car off for service.
The real botching of this case came when Judge Monaghan was giving his closing statement before rendering his verdict. It became very clear he was confused what we were even suing for, and began naming the wrong services. But it was too late, we couldn't speak anymore because as many judges, his ego has gotten the best of him and he will snap at anyone, yelling at them or kicking them out of the room.
The threat of being yelled at by this guy did not help me as a citizen asserting my basic rights, to explain my side in full.
And before a judge renders a decision in a case, should they not be familiar with the laws surrounding the premise of the lawsuit? This judge was not only confused about what our lawsuit was about (Even though we submitted evidence a week in advance), but he created an atmosphere of fear for the private citizen who naturally does not always have an attorney as this is small claims. Massive ego this guy has, I am sure it doesn't help how he comes to a decision.
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Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NJ5098
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Everything said about this unprofessional judge is true. He should be disbarred or removed. The court room is all about him. Insults people for no reason. His decisions are biased and without reasons. Does not allow for credible evidence if he feels you have not heard his rants or if you lowered your head or smiled or begin your question with a statement. He is an embarrassment for the Bergen County civil court. One can easily see how his unhappiness has been transferred to the court.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NJ4946
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
The rudest treatment I have seen of a client witness in 25 years of practicing. Seemingly in the name of efficiency, but gassed on about how the client witness was long-winded when giving the ruling (she was not, and well reined in when she strayed even a little bit). So self-important.

Other

Comment #: NJ4892
Rating:1.0

Comments:
It appears that there may be some room for improvement in communication with this individual. It seems that after agreements are made, they tend to question things excessively and come across as arrogant or self-righteous. Their communication style and how it could be improved to facilitate productive hearings. Additionally, it may be beneficial for them to receive feedback on how they use their position or title so that they can better understand how their behavior is perceived by others and make adjustments accordingly.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: NJ4796
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
He was so unfair did not apply laws correctly I had a show cause hearing and he did not know anything can you appeal a judges decisions

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NJ4764
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Being that this imbecil is reduced to the special civil part for years and can not advance says alot. He does not deserve the title Judge. He is disrespectful, full of himself and does not know the law. In a word- dumb! And that's a problem because there is no justice with an idiot on the bench.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: NJ4571
Rating:1.3

Comments:
Just horrible. Does NOT apply the Law. Condescending and verbose. He is in charge and everyone must sit down , shut up and follow his LAWS, LOVES to hear himself talk and lecture after his ruling. Does NOT even listen to the evidence nor listen to the testimony. Tries to leave everyone shaking in their shoes! An absolute bully and NOT qualified to oversee Small Claims Court where the Plaintiff is NOT a lawyer and is trying to do the best that they can.

Other

Comment #: NJ4570
Rating:1.0

Comments:
He is horrible. Treats the Plaintiff like garbage and does NOT apply the law. Is full of himself and loves to hear himself talk. (On and on and on pontificating). No wonder he has been relegated to Small Claims Court.

Litigant

Comment #: NJ4565
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Wow just wow....I had a 100% winnable case, I had evidence, witness statements.he refused to accept witness statements, told me to explain my case in 2 sentences and reprimanded me when it went to 3
Ruled in favor of defendant. Worst judge ever...should be fired. I have never in my life seen such a case where evidence and witnesses mattered nothing. Definately a defendants judge.

Court Staff

Comment #: NJ4440
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
absolutely does not judge on merits of case. Lets fraud defendants with clear repetitive bad acts walk. Shocked others have experienced same reading posts. Pages and pages of evidence against serial defendant. Verdicts defy The Law itself. Unjust personal enrichment on every level in decision.

Other

Comment #: NJ4204
Rating:1.0

Comments:
absolutely horrible- what all others have said are 100% accurate. Completely unfair and shows favoritism. Was there really no other better qualified judge? He is an abominable humam being

Other

Comment #: NJ4160
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Justice was well served

Litigant

Comment #: NJ3771
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Shocking the degree to which this judge ignores evidence and rules in favor of people whose personalities or backgrounds he prefers.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NJ3706
Rating:3.9

Comments:
In 20-something years of practice I have never encountered such a rude judge. Has no respect for people and it's obvious why he is a small claims judge, though he is not qualified for that. I am constantly shocked by his behavior and the comments he makes to lawyers and litigants during proceedings. His resting angry face says it all. I have challenged him on legal issues and have cited appellate cases and supreme court cases but he just does his own thing; how is this guy still around?

Litigant

Comment #: NJ3571
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
The most one sided court ever seen. Only interest was to not hear a trial and seemed to have something better to do. A bully and talks down to the plaintiff as he is above the law

Other

Comment #: NJ3499
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I agree with the other postings that he doesn't care about the facts. I was prepared, had text messages printed, receipts (he didn't want to see).
Gee, I wonder if someone caused damage to the Judge's personal property how he would the outcome be...He allowed a defendant to cause personal damage to my property and the defendant was not responsible to repair the damages.Scott Kraus, painter, caused personal damage to my property and got away with it. Unbelievable.

Other

Comment #: NJ3498
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
This judge is horrible and should be removed from the bench. He didn't care about the facts. He just cared that my client had money so didn't deserve to be paid damages for the respondent's damage to his property. This judge gives the Court a bad name and makes a mockery of the NJ judiciary.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NJ3398
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This Judge should be removed. Despite his court record showing there was no service of a complaint, he focused on torturing a young female lawyer by making us call her in court while he screamed on speaker phone that he was sanctioning her if she did not leave a medical appointment 2 hours away and get there in an hour and half, (she was suffering from severe emotional distress after her friend died that week), when she had counsel in her place who appeared to argue a simple motion in a small claim contract matter of $4,000. He was barbaric, and she justifiably had a break-down in court because of him. Then he ordered, with no authority, that she remain counsel despite her illness and she appear in a few days again before him so he can yell at her more. Absolutely not how a Judge should behave, nor should anyone betrayed like that by a Judge or otherwise.

Litigant

Comment #: NJ3297
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Certainly has a Napoleon syndrome, short in stature and short on brain. No gray matter between his ears, only fecal matter.

Litigant

Comment #: NJ3288
Rating:1.0

Comments:
very skilled in case fixing

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NJ3098
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Having been in his court two times, I witnessed this judge speaking disrespectfully to me and others his room. As far as my case went, he ruled against me, even though I presented documents showing fraudulent behavior by the defendant. Even the court officer gasped , as did I, when he announced his ruling.