Monday, May 16, 2016

Judge Criticized Openly for Conflict of Interest in Divorce Case

A judge had to face public rebuke as soon as he admitted to having a conflict of interest in a 2013 divorce case where he provided legal counsel to a woman. This has certainly cause the ears of New Jersey divorce lawyers. 

The New Jersey Supreme Court reprimanded C. William Bowkley Jr. for four ethics violations. Bowkley serves a part time municipal judge for Victory Gardens, Mendham Borough, Jefferson, Hopatcong, and Chester Borough.


The State Advisory Committee that oversees unethical judicial conduct filed a complaint in 2014 after investigations revealed that he provided private legal counsel to a client while he was presiding over a domestic violence case involving the same person simultaneously.

Linda Mangan, who was also then known as Linda Chibbaro, had filed a domestic violence case leading to the arrest of her husband John Chibbaro on Oct 8th, 2012. On the same day, Mangan had also applied for a restraining order and the hearing was presided over by Bowkley who issued a restraining order and subsequently a harassment charge was brought against Chibbaro who then filed a counter charge against Mangan.

New Jersey divorce lawyers have seen divorce cases of all magnitudes. 
Bowkley presided over the harassment hearing from Oct 2012 to April 2013 in spite of the fact that he was then providing legal advice to Mangan from January 2013. This was clearly unethical as he neither transferred the case out of Jefferson, point out New Jersey divorce lawyers.

In his defense Bowkley said that she was referred to Bowkley by a former client and he did not recognize Mangan when they met one another. However, he later admitted that he had taken her case in spite of knowing that he was presiding over the harassment complaints and that it presented a conflict of interest. He took no steps to transfer the case to a different court out of Jefferson or disqualifying himself from the case. Not smart judge!

However, this was not Bowkley’s only transgression according to nj.com. In 2008 he faced a similar charge when he did not disqualify himself from a case which involved his client and the father of her kid. What is he thinking?



Thefiscaltimes.com reports that there are certain steps which you can take to secure your financial future in the event of a late-life divorce. Couples share many expenses before marriage but as soon as they divorce they become responsible for their own expenses. This is why they must scale down their lifestyle expenditures.

For the most part, New Jersey divorce attorneys suggest that it is prudent to consider selling your family home and splitting the money unlike what happened in that movie The Break-Up where Gary and Brooke (Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston) just could not figure it out. Many spouses make the mistake of holding on to the family property. Most of the time they are unable to pay the mortgages, taxes, and so on and end up with serious financial problems. Most legal experts believe that it is better decision to let it go and move on. 

Knowing when to let go is a sign of maturity and acceptance. 
Make sure to speak with an experienced New Jersey divorce lawyer if you are faced with issues in your divorce. A poignant litigator can offer valuable advice on the division of assets which can become a contested issue if the marriage has lasted long enough.

No one wants to go through a divorce. But no one wants to be financially hammered in a divorce either – that can make the divorce ring loud and clear in your mind for years to come and make you resentful of the entire experience. You need to click and call. You can do that right here at Divorce.USAttorneys.com. Legal help is right around the digital corner.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Popular Posts