"The Robing Room: PA State Judges

Hon. James M. McMaster	See Rating Details
Judge Common Pleas
Bucks County	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 2.2 - 4 rating(s) Non-Attorney Average Rating: 1.0 - 5 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. James M. McMaster

Comments

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: PA602
Rating:1.5

Comments:
A very poor judge. The worst I have seen in over 25 years working in the Buck's County Courthouse. I am shocked by his carelessness, denigration of individuals who come before him, and complete lack of jurisprudence.

Other

Comment #: PA451
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I have never, in all my years, seen a child's safety, emotional and mental well-being, or development be so disregarded and made to mean nothing. Placing a, at the time of first hearing, 10 month old baby in the custody of the mother's abuser. And to add, would a simple background check be done, they would have seen the "father figures" extensive violent/drug related history... DAYS before being given custody. To which over the last year, he has been in contempt of 3 various visitation orders, and has made the now two year old go a solid 8 months without her mother. No visitation at all, blocking any form of communication, wellness checks done and daughter not at his residence... Yet nothing has been done. Evidence not even allowed to be entered into court of the countless days of mother trying to get her daughter, of his background report, OF THE PRINTED ARTICLE OF HIM STRANGLING WITH AN EXTENSION CORD, PULLING A GUN ON, AND BEATING FEMALE ROOMMATE, After prothonotary "Lost paperwork" for a month, finally court date for June 8th. If this madness is not ended, and this child is not given her mother... There will most definitely be an official complaint with the judiciary board. No child is safe with this hack on a bench.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: PA424
Rating:1.4

Comments:
McMaster is the kind of judge who makes Hon. Judith Sheindlin (aka Judge Judy) seem like a level-headed, well-read presence.

In addition to being a low-rent political hack (thanks Fast Eddie Rendell), McMasterbater is quick to judgment based on no understanding of the law, judicial precedent, or, evidence.

I've never been before him in Family Court - that's where they sent him when he couldn't hack it with civil cases.

McMaster is worse than Mellon.

Other

Comment #: PA399
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This Judge, without any proofs, transferred custody from a father, who has had the child since birth, to the mother, a known drug abuser. The Judge said that "he did not find the father credible" and found the mother "credible". Unbelievable!! Youth and Family Services has been called on the mother numerous times. The mother moved her eldest son to Texas in order to avoid Youth and Family Services from taking him from the home. The mother's boyfriend abuses the two (2) minor children and a court order was issued that the boyfriend was not to be near the children. However, in court, the boyfriend was sitting next to the eldest son and spending time with him. When it was brought up to the Judge - he said he didn't care. The boyfriend should have been immediately arrested but NO, NO, NO!! What kind of Judges takes away a father's right and awards the mother full custody when the mother abandoned the child for over a year without any contact??? Now, he says the father can see his son Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2-4 and every other Sunday from 12 to 5. This Judge needs to be removed from the bench immediately!!!! Appealing this decision!!!!

Other

Comment #: PA397
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Judge McMaster should be removed from the bench. In Bucks County family court he does not care about the safety and well being of the children. No point for a trial in front of this Judge, he will sit there with his eye closed, clearly not paying attention to the testimonies or he would never come to the judgements he has. I pray for all the children that have to go into his court room. His disregard for the facts is outrageous. He also didn’t listen to the recommendations and facts from the Children and Youth agency. Go on change.org and you will see endless heartbreaking stories and see how many children’s lives he has ruined. Unbelievable a person like this is on the bench. Makes one lose hope in the system. Bucks county children are not safe until he is removed from the bench.

Other

Comment #: PA388
Rating:2.0

Comments:
I rated this Judge at a 4. His temperament was even throughput it the trial. Yet I’m fairly certain he was sleeping for a portion of the hearing. Sat with his eyes closed for a long period of time, to which an objection had to be called twice because I’m almost positive he was sleeping and didn’t hear it the first time.

Other

Comment #: PA294
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Biased, erroneous decision, picks sides and has his decision made before hearing the case. Lies in court and violated my 4th amendment rights. Federal suit and complaint with judiciary board will be filed soon. Stay tuned. This man needs to be removed from the bench.

Other

Comment #: PA262
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Very biased. He actually listens to abusers more than the abused. Not a very good man or judge. He should be off the bench. There is a petition on change.org referring to him.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: PA224
Rating:3.8

Comments:
Mediocre legal skills, was politically connected.
Can be mean , unfair and retaliatory . Not truthful.
Bad case of black robe disease .