Six Complaints of Judicial Misconduct Filed Against Judge Hany Mawla
Six Complaints of Judicial Misconduct Filed Against Judge Hany Mawla
April 13, 2011, Trenton, New Jersey. Six separate New Jersey entities received complaints regarding Judge Hany Mawla's courtroom practices, ranging from allegations of refusing to allow evidence in a case to ridiculing and humiliating a defendant.
The complaints in case docket number FM-10-35-05, in Superior Court of Hunterdon County, in Flemington, New Jersey cite specific violations of the canon governing the behavior of judges in New Jersey court. These are contained in "Rules Governing the Courts of the State of New Jersey."
Here are excerpts from the complaints:
Violation one
Canon 3 A (6) "A judge should accord to every person who is legally interested in a proceeding, or that person's lawyer, full right to be heard according to law."
The judge refused to allow the defendant, Gloria Elizabeth Maratta to offer any evidence in her case. Judge Mawla informed the defendant at the beginning of the hearing that she would not be allowed to present any evidence in court on the day of the hearing. This happened on two occasions, once in the morning at 11 a.m. and again at 3 p.m., and when the defendant objected, the judge informed her that she was violating the rules of his courtroom.
This exchange was recorded during the proceedings, and is available on an audio compact disc.
Canon 3 A (3) "A judge should be patient, dignified, and courteous to litigants, jurors, witnesses, lawyers, and others with whom the judge deals in an official capacity."
The judge characterized the defendant as being immature, and suggested that she was faking her grief by observing, "It's funny, you're crying, but I don't see any tears on your cheeks." This was humiliating and degrading to the defendant
.
This exchange was also recorded during the proceedings, and is available on an audio compact disc.
Response from Governor Christie
The Governor of New Jersey, Governor Chris Christie responded to the complaint in the following letter:
Office of the Governor
Post Office Box 001
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0001
April 13, 2011
Ms. Gloria E. Maratta
Dear Ms. Maratta:
Thank you for your letter. I appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts with me.
I have asked my Department of Children and Families Commissioner Dr. Allison Blake to review the information you sent to me and reply to you directly. If you wish to contact Commissioner Dr. Blake's office, you may write to the Department of Children and Families at PO Box 729, Trenton, NJ 08625-0729, or call 609-984-4500.
Again, thank you for writing.
Sincerely,
Chris Christie
Governor
Commissioner Dr. Allison Blake, mentioned in the Governor's letter, has not responded to phone calls and emails regarding the accusations in the case.
Other governmental recipients of the complaints
Commissioner Allison Blake received a complaint directly from Ms. Maratta, in addition to the one from the Governor.
The Supreme Court of the State of New Jersey received a complaint.
Patrick Monahan, Counsel to the Commission on Judicial Misconduct in Trenton, New Jersey was mailed a separate complaint.
The Attorney General received two complaints, one by email and one by certified mail.
Another complaint was filed with Ms. Aime Alonzo-Serrano, Ombudsman, Superior Court of New Jersey, Somerville, New Jersey.
Judge Mawla's supervisor, The Honorable Judge Julie Marino of the Superior Court of New Jersey in Somerville received a complaint.
A complaint separate from the Monahan complaint was sent to Supreme Court of New Jersey Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct in the Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex in Trenton, New Jersey.
Ms. Maratta's unadmitted evidence in the case alleges child abuse against her son by the son's father, Mr. Ralph Maratta of Hampton, New Jersey. She claims that Judge Hany Mawla would not allow her to present documentation of domestic violence on the part of Mr. Maratta, evidence of drug use, and evidence of using a minor to transport drugs across state lines.
The judge placed the child in the custody of Mr. Maratta. When Ms. Maratta asked for a drug test, the judge told her he didn't have any kits to do the drug testing with.
All of the complaints are under review, and as of this writing the Governor is the only recipient who has responded.
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