"The Robing Room: NY State Judges

Hon. Katerina Contaratos	See Rating Details
JHO/Support Magistrates
New York County	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 2.3 - 12 rating(s) Non-Attorney Average Rating: 3.0 - 10 rating(s)	Please send me alerts on this judge E-mail Address:

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Only items marked with (*) are averaged into the displayed overall rating.

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. Katerina Contaratos

Comments

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY13866
Rating:2.1

Comments:
She was very temperamental, she yelled at me scolded me like I was a child . She only heard one side . She was very bias. She did not grant me a right to an attorney for representing me. I told her I could not afford one she said she “ I did not care” “ I better have one when I return “

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: NY13671
Rating:1.0

Comments:
In my experience, she was very biased and very temperamental. She makes you feel helpless and miserable. Only siding with the mother without knowing or caring of the situation that led to the courts. I am not the best father but I do take care of my children. Just for being a man, this means I have to work and provide, while the mother stays home and enjoys the joy of being with the children. She is not fit to be a magistrate, I had hopes the courts would be fair to both sides, but with a judge like Katerina Contaratos, my life is now all about work and less time with the kids. I had to get a second job now on the weekends just to make ends meet. And the weekends.is the only time I have with my children. I hope you get the same.treatment one day and someone makes you feel worthless just as you do the same to men.

Litigant

Comment #: NY13247
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
FINALLY a tough, sharp Family Court judge who sees through the bullshit. My opponent was pleading hardship (doesn't want to pay for his child) but is believed to be hiding millions. Although the Supreme Court judges either didn't realize or more likely didn't care, She saw through the manipulations and evasiveness right away, and wasn't impressed that he brought an attorney to family court. In fact this was a BIG mistake on my opponent's part. If you can throw thousands at a Manhattan attorney to fight rightfully paying child support, then you can pay to support your child instead. Judge Contaratos rules for what is in the best interests of the child, which is what she is supposed to do.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY12866
Rating:1.1

Comments:
I heard about this judge before going to court, but I wanted to believe that maybe people were just blowing things out of proportion. With a minute it became crystal clear that all the negative things I heard were actually. She is biased, racist, and obnoxious.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY12571
Rating:2.4

Comments:
She is biased toward men.Total waste of the system. does not have court atticate. she yells, not listen. have no respect to profession

Other

Comment #: NY12510
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Katerina Contaratos was very fair to me. She yelled at me at first, but then when I told my side she believed me because it really was the truth.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: NY10301
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
She is a total waste to the system. I don't even want to comment more on her. She's a waste of taxpayers money.

Other

Comment #: NY9234
Rating:1.0

Comments:
She is the worst Magistrate I have ever seen. She should be removed immediately.

Other

Comment #: NY8719
Rating:1.0

Comments:
She goes off on you never gives you a chance to respond. If you have her please change her before your hearing. She makes you feel as if your are the worst parent ever, she treats you as if you are nothing.

Litigant

Comment #: NY8025
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
I could not believe the disgrace of judge we have no wonder they want trump you guys at that court room kantaratos are so abuse and rude please please be Aware of this judge don't go with her ask for transfer immediately

Litigant

Comment #: NY8024
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This woman speaks to people like they are not worthy of the same respect that she demands. It feels more like you are in A fast food restaurant, rather than A courtroom. She is rude, condescending, abrupt, and she yells at you as if you were her child. I wish they would get rid of her. Fair is fair but no one needs her attitude based off of assumptions.

Litigant

Comment #: NY7896
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Word judge ever

Litigant

Comment #: NY7895
Rating:1.0

Comments:
My God If you unfurtunely have her inmedialty ask for transfer the worst judge that I ever see in my live tooooo much abuse of power we men's no rights no matter what even if you have a great proofs

Litigant

Comment #: NY6968
Rating:8.0

Comments:
i went to see her yesterday morning for a modification of a monthly increase. i was assuming already in her mind she wanted to entertain the petition and increase the monthly amount regardless. I was prepared to talk for myself but to my surprise i did not have to say much or stay long.. She got down to it and looked for the Petitioners (who was not there) cause and Mrs Contaratos could not find one. She dismissed it very fast and did not bulls**t on it. She was not really condescending and did not make me feel inferior to her in anyway really. I also seen her a few months ago briefly and she was fine too. So i cant say anything bad about her at all. She sees alot of these cases obviously and if you are a bum and come across as one, She will most likely light you up! I find Hon Contaratos quite interesting actually... that all being said i will be "generous" here with a rating of 8 because she had me in and out of there.

Litigant

Comment #: NY6609
Rating:7.0

Comments:
She communicated well with me. Showed an understanding of my situation in a child support dispute and treated me fairly.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY6568
Rating:1.4

Comments:
she is very bias, with no Flexiblity of calander hearing, she should be removed.

Other

Comment #: NY6120
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Letter of abuse by MAGISTRATE KATERINA CONTARATOS

To whom it may concern:

I have been retro-acted twice, on two different occasions to the sum of $20,000.

I received a notice to appear in court for Modification on NOV 2011. On this particular court appearance date, I was called into the courtroom, I didn’t see my ex-wife there, I wasn’t sworn in nor asked my name, I sat there for a while, and no dialogue took place, she looked at the computer for a few seconds then told me to leave???
(All of this paperwork I had to bring in and prepare for that day but nothing for nothing, she NEVER ASKED to see them!!)
A few months later, February 2012, I received an arrears bill for $9,000.00 dated back to the Sept, 2010. I was devastated, to say the least. Mine you, I contested the initial amount of 1,000.00 within 30 days to the main Judge back in Sept, 2010. The Judge, he ruled in my favor, stating that the type of work I did (Back Ground Acting) the amount initiated by magistrate Contaratos was too high. I was only to pay $400.00
a month in 2010- Nov, 2011. I did ALL OF IT,,MONTHLY!
not only did she reinstate the old CS decision but retro-acted me $600 a month for THE YEAR I ALREADY FORFILLED MY OBLIGATION in 2010-2011.. so unfair..

2- In JULY 2014, I appeared again in her court room for modification (My son changed his mind about moving with me out of state, his mom initiated this petition) . What is very said is that:

1- My Divorce papers were produce on this date, with the conditions on CHILD SUPPORT AGREEMENT between myself and my Ex wife. The amount would be $800.00 amonth with added conditions that the old arrears and docket would be vacated.
2- This same year in question, I had custody of one of my two children..FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR 2014 going back to SEPT 2013,, where he also attended school under my care. I NEVER GOT CREDITED FOR THIS.

3-MY daughter (The other remaining child),under her own free will wanted to EMANCIPATE herself also to go with me.
I produced a “NOTARIZED” doc, an original and copy of the EMANCIPATED LETTER, and presented it to the Magistrate doc. The magistrate asked for the original copy, NEVER GAVE IT BACK. She turned and asked the woman at the computer to get THE TRANSCRIPTS from the Supreme court of OUR DIVORCE!!!!!, because "SHE DIDNT LIKE THE CONDITIONS OF THIS DIVORCE"..wow.
Now, I’m in the process of moving out of NYC, to another state that is 3 hrs away, Rhode Island) state that same week (July 2014), my license was due for suspension, I told her that I was moving to another state that required my license for commuting,and getting work, I desperately needed he needed her help. To no avail.The end result.
She, “VACATED” the Divorce agreement docket, But TRANSFERED THE OLD ARREARS, onto the "NEW" docket, on Sept 9, 2014, and added a new CS amount of $1,138.00 amonth. My total arrears jumped from $13,419.36. JULY 2014, to $24,589.40.
IN THREE MONTHS!!!!! that is $11,170.04. more in JUST THREE MONTHS.

WHO DO YOU GO TO COMPLAIN TO FOR THIS INJUSTICE...this is my second letter of complaint about the wrong practices of this magistrate. to date my new balance is $29,139.40. at $1,138.00 amonth increase since Sept 2013 (HE DATE I RECIEVED CUSTODY OF MY CHILD). SHE ADDED THIS AMOUNT ON TOP OF CHILD SUPPORT PAID AND IN-SPITE OF MY SON LIVING WITH ME AND NEVER GETTING CREDITED FOR THE CHILD PAYMENT PAID THIS YEAR ALSO 2014 . Currently, I am out of work, cant drive to look for work (DUE TO LICENSE SUSPENSION). I am HOMELESS NOW, with my girlfriend, her two little girls, and pregnant 3 1/2 months. SAD< SAD UNBELIEVEBLE.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: NY5784
Rating:2.0

Comments:
there must be a check and balance system to rid these kind on judges from the legal system no upholding of the rule of the law rules by perception and misconception very very sad

Litigant

Comment #: NY5783
Rating:1.0

Comments:
It is sad that in the greatest country in the world and the greatest city in the world that we have in our court system judges that rule by perception and prejudice with complete disregard to the rule of law. Judge Katerina contratos is a disgrace to the legal system. make you wonder how do we keep judges in check and how do we clean our legal system. I am speachless

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY5729
Rating:1.0

Comments:
she is rude ,no respect to men, not ready to listen men side, I don't why she is there.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY5247
Rating:2.0

Comments:
I'm not sure why she is there. Doesn't anyone see how unfair she is?

Other

Comment #: NY5175
Rating:1.0

Comments:
She is the worst judge ever, and very biased in favor of women. She never ever listens to the men's side.
She treats lawyers with no respect whatsoever. My experience with her is rated zero.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: NY5071
Rating:1.4

Comments:
She treated me as though I were sub-human. She was rude and condescending. Yes, this judge gave me the impression that she is pro-women. Does this judge know how vindictive the custodian parent (the mother) was to me in the past? I am a good man and a law-abiding citizen. I am appalled by these type of support judges who bring their personal attitude to their jobs, and who are making decisions based on my monetary livelihood. This support judge was very disappointing in the way that she handled my case. The system is broken and needs serious reform. Something really has to be done, because these support judges are destroying lives.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: NY4798
Rating:2.3

Comments:
She is very biased and favors mothers, even deadbeat mothers. It seems like she is biased against men who fight for their rights.