Devin P. Cohen

Injudicious and partial. Condescending and irritable. More focused on highlighting his infinite legal wisdom than to appear neutral.

I disagree with most of the comments. He can be condescending and likes to talk a lot but as long as you know your case back and forth you'll be fine. He doesn't suffer fools. Cohen is working hard in the new Labor Law Part and really making an effort to settle cases at mediation.

` Without question, the worst trial judge in Kings County. Admittedly pro-plaintiff, he displays that bias at every opportunity. Judge's attitude and rulings were so consistently bad, that I actually had to explain to my client, that Devin Cohen was just a lousy human being and a terrible judge and was not bribed by the Plaintiffs. He has no grasp of the rules of evidence and refuses to be educated. He interferes frequently in the trial, and displays outright animosity to defense attorneys and their clients in front of the jury. The fact that he is on the bench is an embarrassment to all.

I just wonder if this arrogant, incompetent judge thinks we're all so stupid we won't recognize comments posted by his mom. "Professional", my foot.

Devin Cohen is an example of that phenomenon which is sadly not rare enough: a jurist who is both wholly under-qualified for his position and possessed of a horrible judicial temperament. His most memorable quality is his arrogance, which is so undeserved and incompatible with his level of scholarship and accomplishment. Amongst his other memorable qualities is his total lack of dignity. I have literally seen this man, in a black robe, on the bench, refer to counsel, arguing substantive motions, as "bro" and "dude." I wonder if my opinion might be slightly altered if I appeared before Justice Cohen on a motor vehicle negligence case, which I believe was his area of practice, before ascending to the Bench. I have, however, only appeared before him on commercial matters. Though he wrote a lengthy decision to justify his incorrect conclusions, his rambling opinion displayed a total lack of understanding of the subject-matter on which he was ruling. It looks like he's, thankfully, been removed from JCP but I wonder if there is a Part in which he could possibly prove to be an asset to the judicial system. I struggle to imagine what it might be but am an optimist.

He is truly ignorant. His one good quality is that he isn't biased he is a jerk to everyone. He took over JCP during covid and is taking credit for the cases moving at a quicker pace than during a lockdown pandemic. He wastes everyone's time and is the most ineffective Judge at settling cases. He also has to tell us how successful he was in private practice. I have been doing this a long time he wouldn't be a judge if he had a successful practice.

Unprofessional, didnt go by evidence or filed court papers. His decision was either subjective or simply he didnt take the time to read all court papers or worst which was my impression that the other party who is very rich had a connection to him. The judgment was already written and decided prior oral argument !

Ill-tempered, arbitrary, disrespectful, callous, sadistic -- just the qualities you want in a judge when you want a judicial system that makes trial-by-combat look civilized by comparison.

I agree with those who believe that the positive comments were written by the Judge or his cronies. I’ve been an attorney for 32 years and I’ve encountered a lot of arrogant jurists. Judge Cohen is in the Top 5 most arrogant judges I have ever had the misfortune to encounter. He’s rude, impetuous, dismissive, arrogant, wisecracking and worst of all, a know it all. He’s never wrong, even when he clearly is. He’s probably a loyal party hack so he’s going to be around for a long while.

Although he ultimately closed the case without finding for either side, in the matter before him his understanding of the issues, dealings with the parties, and general demeanor did not inspire confidence that he is able to dispense justice consistently or even-handedly. Particularly if there is any complexity in the issues, as an experienced litigator I would hope not to have further cases with him.

I don't know if he's an idiot or he refuses to do any analysis. He denied a motion saying that we didn't submit any evidence showing X, where we have an entire section of our brief discussing X. He decided a complex contract issue of in two sentences, without even discussing any of the evidence inconsistent with his determination. Awful.