The Superior Court of New Jersey, Essex County Family Division, is the busiest family law court in New Jersey. The diverse county of Essex includes wealthy areas like Short Hills and Livingston and poorer areas in Irvington and Newark. The courthouse is located at 212 Washington Street in Newark, NJ. While there are many different types of family law cases in family law court, this article will focus on the Matrimonial Division judges who handle divorces and post-divorce actions.
Judge Nancy Sivilli is one of Essex County’s longest serving Divorce/Family Law Judges. Judge Sivilli was a civil court judge before being transferred to the family division, where she handles a very heavy file. Judge Sivilli is a neutral judge who understands both sides of the story as she is married with children. While it is not critical for a family law judge to have children, I believe that having children gives him a different perspective than someone who does not. Judge Sivilli delivered the address to the early settlement panel to inform litigants of their opportunity to resolve their issues prior to trial.
The next judge is the Honorable Judge Donald Kessler, who has also been with Essex County Family Law Court for a long time. Judge Kessler is strict with the rules of the court, but he is a very kind and patient person. He does not tolerate yelling or other unruly behavior in court from him. He allows people to make their arguments one at a time, since a court should be like and not like the Maury Show that some judges allow. Judge Kessler is a family man who truly cares about the needs of the children in each case above anything else.
Judge Michael Casale is the next judge to focus on matrimonial cases and he is a judge who I think understands the rules of equitable distribution more than most judges. In a recent case, he ruled that the party who invested premarital funds in the marital home must recover that portion of the principal before dividing what is left. While other judges rule that once they invest money together, the money is “mixed” and the split of the money is lost. This last argument to me makes no sense in a court of equity. I agree with Judge Casale’s methods and theory.
Whether you have a case before Judge Sivilli, Judge Casale or Judge Kessler, Judge Neil Jasey, Judge Russell or Judge Adobato, divorce proceedings in Essex can be lengthy due to the “war between Trenton and Essex” and the lack of assigned judges. to Essex, which has caused a backlog of lawsuits in family court. While there is a delay, the good news is that these judges are very wise and manage their schedules quite well.
