NYS Unified Court Sys
Albany Family Court Judge, W. Dennis Duggan, was named 2007 Family Court Judge of the Year by his colleagues from the New York State Family Court Judges Association. However, as of the date of this article, he has been voted New York State's worst judge for 2009 on Courthouse Forum. The surveys and voting on Courthouse Forum are not necessarily scientific.
There have been 142 votes cast for Duggan, and his overall rating is an F. Five people have filled out surveys on Duggan. You can view the survey results here.
Duggan was also elected the worst judge in New York State in 2008 on Courthouse Forum with 5704 votes. The second worst judge, Martin Schoenfeld, was a distant second with 74 votes. Judge Duggan was also ranked the fifth worst judge in the United States in 2008.
Judge Duggan has received negative comments from both men and women.
After Judge Dennis Duggan wrote a perspective column for the Albany Times-Union arguing for the need for two parent families, fathers' rights activist James Hays of Ballston Spa responded with a letter to the editor saying Duggan was part of the problem because he awarded custody to mothers in more than 90% of his cases.
In his response, Hays said, "The best a father can hope for is the "standard New York order," doled out by every family court in the state, of every other weekend and one four hour mid-week "visit" with his children. Saratoga Family Court Judge Courtney Hall, after imposing the standard New York order on one father, was confronted by the paternal grandmother who asked, "How is a father supposed to be a father with access only every other weekend?" His reply, "He can't."
On Courthouse Forum, one woman had this to say about Duggan. "I am a single mother with three children. My ex husband had not paid child support in years. I had to appear four times before Judge Dugan at great expense in both time off from work and attorney fees before he would enforce our already agreed upon (at great expense) divorce settlement."
Judge Duggan has written many articles about family law and family court. He also has been an outspoken advocate for judicial pay raises in New York State.
Comments
I've had the displeasure of learning about this Judge W.Dennis Duggan because unfortunately my son is in jail with a court order violation. My son was to be released jul 2 for time served, but he's still sitting there because of Mr Duggan. Apparently they can't locate him to sign the release and when My sons lawyer tried to contact Mr Duggans office to find out why he's not doing his job she was met with rude responses from the secretary and no results. And there my son sits there for NO REASON. That is the result of an unreasonably sloppy judicial system(kangaroo court). It seems to me that this man is just skating through his job just pretending to be busy, running his mouth and getting paid more for doing LESS. I would like very much to speak with you Mr Weaver if at all possible. I want people to hear about this situation not only because my son had to spend undue time in jail but also during the an unpleasant memory of being shot a few yrs ago Jul 4th.PLEASE RSVP T/Y much.
You can email me at danieltweaver AT gmail.com
Judge DUggan has saved the lives of my children and his judgement is excellent. People only think he is a bad judge if he ruled against you. The father's right extremist will continue to bad mouth Judge Duggan because the father's he rules against are usually abusive, controlling men that are using the court system to continue to abuse and control the wives that have left them, these men will never take responsibility for their actions and Duggan steps in to try to hold them somewhat accountable for their disgusting behaviors, thank you Judge Duggan, you have saved our lives. Keep doing what you do!!!!
Susan, did you read the part of the article that states that both men and women have posted negative comments about Judge Duggan?
The reason this judge has negative comments from both men and women is because he doesn't do his job, no matter who the primary caretaker is male or female, he just seems to rule as the mood strikes him without any logic to his rulings at all. Judge Duggan usally throw the baby out wtih the bath water. The best intrest of the child is usally the last thing Duggan looks at. He is not handing out justice, he is obstructing it. He is calloused and jaded, and half the time he doesn't even look up at the people's who's lives he is ruling on, let alone listen to them! He hands out half baked custody orders without any regard for the children involved. NO, this man needs to be investigated. He is unfit to rule, he makes decsions that are devasting to families without any compassion or regard for what happens after the court room door slams shut. He doesn't diffuse volatile situations, he throw gas on them to see what going to happen next! Stay tuned,eventually everything comes out in the end.
Only those who are in the inner circle would praise our Judicial system, a system that reeks of
trappings of law and government NOT justice, a system that provides the black robe
Immunity for misconduct, a Judicial Review system that reviews its complaints in secret by fellow Judges and political appointees, a system that is overseen by a self governing and self protected
legal society, a system where the gavel rules for political agenda and for the highest bidder.
We need to take back our government so we restore justice for the individual
There's are methods to his maddness, Duggan is trying to be politically correct, that's all he cares about, damn the children
sigh.... I brought the mother of my child to court in albany county after she told me I would never see him again. She managed to get cought lying in court multiple times in a drawn out 3yr proccess. I have not seen my son in 6 months now. I rarely get to see him at all a total of 3 times this year.
Thanks Albany Court justice.......
I have filed a complaint against W. Dennis Duggan. It will be interesting to see weather or not there will be community backing in my efforts.
The Anti-Discrimination Committee filed a Complaint against Judge Dennis Duggan to the Committee on J.Conduct; US Dept of Justice; NY JC on Minorities; The DA and AG stating:"The ADC wishes to complain about the evident racial profiling monstrated by Albany County Family Court Judge W. Dennis Duggan in a series of cases involving Teresa Martin-Berrada and Mark Berrada "Teresa" and "Mark", respectively), concerning custody of their children and visitation rights, and especially with regard to a petition by Teresa to have Mark designated as a flight risk. Judge Duggan's actions and remarks raise a troubling concern that his decisions are based less on the merits of the parties' positions than on the fact that Mark is an Arab American from Morocco with a Muslim background. It also raises the concern that Teresa's attorney, Ian Arcus, has exploited this situation, gratuitously emphasizing Mark's Muslim background and presenting witnesses and evidence that ought not to have been permitted"
I have had the unfortunate experience of getting front row seat to the zoo known as family court. I just read Judge Duggans column and it made me sick to my stomach. Rather than worry about getting more judges, he should worry about the law guardians who walk in his courtroom and flat out lie. He also defended the cps workers which I found amusing. The cps workers I have spoke with are uneducated and havent the slightest clue as to what is best for the child. I realize that every law guardian and cps worker cannot be considered a lying, corrupt court worker but it sure does seem that way. I also dont think Judge Duggan (who was voted the worst judge the last two years) Judge Maney who is driving away from DWI checkpoints, Law Guardians (who take money from the state but never even see their own client, the child) and cps workers (who are the silent terrorists) ever will change until people like Dan Weaver and the media expose the rats.
I am shocked by Judge Duggan's disregard for what is best for children. He refused to hear what the law guardian had to say from her investigation. He refused to hear what the sibling of the parent in question had to say. He refused to hear why the father of the child wants the aunt to raise the child because the mother is unfit and he is able to take her. These children have been neglected since day one. The five year old does not want to go back to mommy; that should speak volumes, her sister is to young to speak for herself. The children are safe, happy and well cared for. Judge Dugan wants to send them back to mommy to live in a shelter, be exposed to drugs, neglect and not loved. Judge Dugan should be remove from the bench. How dare he play russian roulet with the children he is supposed to protect.
Actions speak louder then words! Unite! Duggan will be up for re-election in 2013. Hopefully, he'll seek the pay raise he thinks he deserves in private practice and relieve families of his omnipotence. Luckily, I'm in the graphics business, one that will afford me the opportunity to support whatever candidate runs against him vuisually...BIG TIME. Judge Duggan....you questioned & tested my religious faith in your courtroom.....how's your faith?
Judge Doogie Duggin will burn in Hell.
TBO, Duggin worships money and power. Duggin is a vile animal that should be put behind bars for his disgrace to the black robe.
Yes, we must pick and choose what evidence is admitted to fit the plan to deny one parent custody because our government needs the money we get from the Federal government from the custody pool fund. Yes, the father is the wallet and he is denied custody in over 85% of cases and NO it doesn't matter if he is a fit and parent because our Liberal Agenda run government says the mother is the only one qualified to be caretaker; after all the children did come out of her womb and her vagina where bonding occurs.
I know what you Mean Judge Judy. I was a member of the women women until these man haters took over OUR movement. Real women don't see men as sperm donors and wallets like these
new women taught by the Liberal Agenda in our public schools. If men/fathers want a voice, they must come up with the Moeny to buy their voice with the Legislators.
Duggin is a rabbid badger with a lying gavel and poisonous pen. Has anyone seen the stats on children from fatherless homes? The federal government is scrutinizing this data because children are the future government revenue producers and kids used as pawns in the family destructive courts have long term mental health problems with high rates of remaining in the justice system at taxpayer expense. The federal government is also looking at the fraud these family law lawyers and Judges are committing because they defraud the social programs funds too. Hundreds of thousands of victims are exposing this fraud and the damage to our kids with hidden videos in these kangaroo courts. Justice is coming! .
Judge Duggin took my grandkids away from my son and our family. He's nothing short of a Monster.
The mother is a party animal who leaves my grandkids for days at a time but Judge Duggin didn't find the evidence admissable. Good Lord, what has happened to our family court system? Why does a Monster like Judge Duggin reign with such trauma for children? Grandparents who have sons see the injustice and we are organizing so we won't be extorted to bail out our son's from prison with any due process. How can people be put in jail without their right to be heard by a Jury of their peers in this country? How can a family court leave fathers with NO money to live on and
deny them the right to parent their children? How can Administravie Judges of the family court system claim they have no Jurisdiction over their Judges? How can a Judicial review board hide behind secrecry and fail to sanction Judges for blatent violations and Judicial misconduct in 99% of cases? How can a Legislative body say they have no jurisdiction over their courts? How can the Attorney Generals say they can't intervene in civil cases when children are being exploited and suffering when it is their duty to protect them?
Mrs. Elliot, you hit the nail on the head, it IS all about MONEY. State governments are debt ridden; the best interest of the child law in 2005 was vaguely written to provide CPS and the legal criminals of the courts to exploit the governments' Policy that every child born is a Ward of the State to be taken when the Government says so. The Guardianship racket scam on children in divorce is an off shoot of the same racket pulled on elders. They changed the laws from 'incompetent' to 'incomapcitated' so these courts could use the soft science of their mental health providers and NOT medical providers to take custody of elders under Guardianship and strip their assets Before they use their benefits from social security and Medicare under a Federal mandate. It became so lucrative for the lawyers and state governments, the State governments perpetuate this crime on children and the disabled. BTW, a court can only order an individual to undergo a mental health evaluation IF they are a danger to themselves or others this is why parents must pay CASH to the court quack as insurance will NOT pay for evaluations in custody cases for illicit purposes. These quacks are ex state employees/employees from their partnership providers who open their own shingles to double, triple, quadruple their income from this scam; ditto for the Gaurdian at Litems. These two court 'whores' pay kickbacks to the Judge for the steady stream of clients. lol
Now that our Government is BANKRUPT with a 14 Trillion dollar debt factor that keeps growing with no means of paying expenditures with 23% of Americans OUT of work if one uses the Feds own methodolgy up until 1994. The feds are cracking down on the FRAUD by these legal criminals and providers as the social security & Medicare/medicaid program funds are in jeopardy as the baby boomers are starting to file for their benefits. This is why the Public Health Plan had to be FORCED down the masses throats: to fund gobberment FIRST and dole out benefits or NOT. Penalizing the public for not buying their scam substandard healthcare is egregiously Unconstitutional and the public will see just how far the gavel bends to Polical Agenda. The legislators were smacking their lips when this health plan was passed.... MONEY for their bankrupt checkbooks and they thought the public would just 'accept' their sugar coated SCAM. lol
The Tea Party spung out of this forced Public health and now the hundreds of thousnds of victims of family 'diabolical' court have a VOICE that these DemoRATs & RHiNOs can't silence with their smears and Corporate Media propoganda. lol
The Law of the Universe is TRUTH and truth always comes to call sooner or later. Note how many slime ball family court Government Attorneys w/gavels are running for cover through retirement...they FEAR all their Victims and KNOW when the economy runs off the cliff, they will be brought to Justice in the streets. Review history, no Tyrants have ever survived their brutality upon the innocent.
Keep Praying folks and keep the FIRE in your buring so you are Ready to bring these Treasonous black robed scum to Justice no matter what Rock they slither under.
OMG Whistleblower do you really think it will get that bad? Things are not good but America has seen tough times before. Even if we are in another Great Depression, we came out of one before and we will do it again. The Republicans will pull the plug on the Democrats and restart the economy, that's why we have the two party system. The public has been disengaged and now we are awake. The Politicians blew off the Tea Partiers but since it grew they can no longer pretend
or ignore us and we aren't going back to sleep.
when is this man going to be under a Federal Bureau Investigation he is in to Cooperation
Yes this is a bad Judge Duggin took my daughter away from me and our family we never seen her for four years. He's nothing but of a Monster. The father is a party animal who leaves my daughter with druggies for days at a time but Judge Duggin didn't find any evidence admissable. Why did he test the fathers for drugs. Good GOD, what has happened to the family court system? Why does a Monster like Judge Duggin reign with such trauma for children? Her Grandparents who have rights children are being exploited and suffering when it is their duty to protect them? My daughter is home now with me she tell me I hate NY and that Judge Duggin that try to kill my daughter. All the children in Albany NY are being abuse. The Judge most be take money from there druggie man to get the children. My daughter is so mess up and trauma. I do not no how to fix this mess. Why did he do this to me and other women her in AlbanY NY.
Dugan is pretty biased against mother's rights too! Or maybe he is just out to screw up as many kids as possible to keep himself and the Family Court system in business in the future!! I watch as my grand daughter becomes hysterical and throws up all over herself every time she is MADE to do overnights with her father, no matter how hard my daughter tries to make this transition easier on her, it has only become worse and she is just a baby and has been doing this for 3yrs!! It has not gotten better it has gotten worse, she doesn't mind visits it is the overnights, 3 days here 3 days there, 15 days here and 15 days there for a baby???? Dugan has emotionally abused my granddaughter, in my opinion, but where is the outrage, when this judge has this kind of power over people's lives and never looks back, doesn't care, HE SPLITS THE BABY IN HALF, TOO BAD FOR THE BABY THOUGH, BECAUSE THAT IS WHO SUFFERS! Dugan is destroying children he is cracking them at their very foundation, why, because of his arrogant omnipotent Solomon complex!! When my granddaughter needs psychological counseling in 20 years because she is unstable and insecure but can't figure out why, WILL DUGAN PAY FOR IT???? HE WILL HAVE CAUSED IT! HE IS A DISGUSTING EXCUSE FOR HUMAN BEING, LET ALONE A JUDGE!
Can a judge be sued for malpractice?
This Judge needs an evaluation done on him. I am a single mother of two working two jobs to support my family and my youngest child dad took me to court for custody saying I was neglecting him in the meanwhile when I had custody he paid $25 a month for child support . The judge granted the father custody while he sits at home on welfare, and hes suppose to be the role model for my child.
This Judge needs an evaluation done on him. I am a single mother of two working two jobs to support my family and my youngest child dad took me to court for custody saying I was neglecting him in the meanwhile when I had custody he paid $25 a month for child support . The judge granted the father custody while he sits at home on welfare, and hes suppose to be the role model for my child.
I am calling and writing to the State of New York, a d not only that viewers, i found a way to get rid of him. I promise that soon will be no more Duggan. Pls respond to this comment by August 28, 2011. so we can come together as one in front of the State office. : ) Ill be reading and replying to your comments before the date listed.
I'm in, MD
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