Kathleen C Waterman

What does “manipulate the court” even mean? Who wrote that review – one of the named Cardozo attorneys? There are already two NBC reports about Kathleen Waterman’s conduct, multiple articles, plus a petition signed by hundreds calling for Waterman’s removal. This is also the same judge who accused Emmy-winning journalist Sarah Wallace of accosting her on video, seriously undermining her credibility (and Waterman almost slammed the car door on Sarah’s arm). Add in two prior bankruptcies, and it’s beyond fair to question what’s really going on. The DOJ is focused on corruption, and no one is above the law. If there was wrongdoing, like with Judge Eisenpress, it will come out. If not, she has nothing to fear. But dismissing the litigants featured by Sarah Wallace, and the dozens of others who filed complaints with the CJC, as “sucking on lemons” shows a complete ignorance of basic law.

I am an attorney who barely escaped her ire. She is unstable and reflects the issues with the NYC judicial system.

All of these bad reviews are from people who tried to manipulate the court and suffered the appropriate consequences. You all got what you deserved and are sucking on lemons. Bravo to Judge Waterman for her even temperament when faced with this and courage to rule appropriately. You all got what you deserved,

This arrogant Judge is going down just like [Redacted by Ed.] Judge Eisenpress in Rockland County did, but even harder.

All of these comments are from jilted litigants who undoubtedly got what they deserved from Judge Waterman, one of the few judge actually willing to make the tough decisions that are necessary to deal with people like them. Wish she was still on the bench. God bless her.

These complaints are widely known and successor judges Tingling and Capitti now manage the aftermath of KWM’s terrible rulings. Does anyone else question whether KWM’s decisions reflected improper inducement? The victims in the NBC Reports should do a follow-up story.

I've never been treated so poorly and by anyone. So utterly unprofessional. If she was in any corporate job, she'd be fired immediately. Horrible temperament. Hard to imagine she actually ran for her position which she clearly hated. She was so clearly biased that I'm still convinced she knew the defendant in my case and her actions (or lack of) cost me tens of thousands of dollars in unnecessary court costs.

Wow, I'm astonished at all the negative comments here. I didn't know her as a matrimonial lawyer (my wife knew "of" her, my wife is a matrimonial lawyer - had nothing bad to say). I know her only since she took a regular part. Although she ruled against me (she was probably right), I found her pleasant, respectful, interested... she had read the papers, she knew what we were about, and she was engaged and strong. I like her. I don't get all the bad reviews.

Decides cases as she pleases without regard to the law or the facts. Extremely biased. Now that she is handling a more general docket of cases, where she has less discretion than in matrimonial cases, watch the appellate reversals pile up. But you get the feeling she doesn't even care if she gets reversed. What seems important to her is screwing people she chooses not to like.

Evidence is piling up that a group of matrimonial attorneys and the judges they "sponsor" (including KWM) are raging rampant, taking away litigants’ children and engaging in dissipation of marital assets. See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wK7Eppe8jLk. Please contact the DOJ with additional information so that these abusive tactics end: https://civilrights.justice.gov/report/.

There are several serious concerns raised in the posts below. It is surprising that the administration has not publicly addressed the situation involving Judge Waterman Marshall, especially in light of the NBC reports alleging misconduct. Given her prior role as the Principal Law Clerk to Justice Arthur F. Engoron in 2014, it’s possible she has been shielded from scrutiny.

The “Attorney Grievance #1: Wrongful Contempt & Incarceration” post on Waterman Watch (on Substack) references alleged violations of federal law, including by certain law firms that were supposedly complicit. It’s an interesting read that highlights potential Conflicts of Interest between Judge Waterman and certain law firms and calls for immediate interim suspension of 27 listed attorneys, including from firms such as Blank Rome and the judge’s own clerks. The portions of transcripts that are posted do not paint a pretty picture. Why Judge Waterman and these law firms pushed for incarceration seems excessive and not the best use of resources. The Substack post notes: “As alleged in this grievance, almost thirty attorneys willfully violated the law multiple times alongside Judge Waterman. We did not find a single example, across nine cases, three years and about thirty appearances, when Judge Waterman or those attorneys adhered to their legal and ethical mandates as an unrepresented party faced contempt and incarceration.”

She is the absolute worst judge and probably an even worse person in real life - angry, abusive, easily triggered and highly biased. Good riddance to her.

Waterman Marshall is an abysmal example of a jurist who lacks the intellect and the temperament to sit on a bench before taxpaying litigants. Her snap decisions on oral applications create make-work for the target litigant whom this judge wants to settle a case. To Waterman Marshall, settling a case means surrendering the right to trial as she says she will not change established temporary orders, which means she treats temporary orders as if they were permanent ones. This behavior deprives a litigant of an opportunity to appeal. This judge also demonstrates a socialistic attitude toward litigants characterized by her talking down to everyone who appears in her courtroom. She is holier than thee and triggering her wrath takes very little. A visit to a psychiatrist and some legal education courses are needed to possibly assist Waterman Marshal in her judging.

The comments below only begin to scratch the surface of the harm Judge Kathleen Waterman Marshall has inflicted on countless litigants. The devastation is especially profound when considering the many children unjustly torn away from one of their parents due to her rulings. For years to come these children will carry the emotional scars, many requiring therapy well into adulthood, all because of unforgivable and biased decisions. Several reviewers have rightfully praised Sarah Wallace’s investigative reports, which were thorough and well-executed. However, I noticed little mention of the Waterman Watch Substack, an essential resource for anyone appearing before Waterman Marshall. In particular, the April 17th post titled “Complaint: Racial Bias & Insensitivity” is deeply troubling. One quote stands out: “While Judge Waterman laughed at her own remarks, audible groans from the audience could be heard.” It’s cringe-inducing and emblematic of broader concerns. Those taking her written opinions at face value are, regrettably, being misled. In her official biography, Waterman Marshall states: “Born in East Harlem and raised in Manhattan, she is the first of her family to graduate from college, attend law school, and join the legal profession.” Yet, in a video featured on Waterman Watch, she admits, “I’m not born in Harlem. I’m like Harlem-adjacent. I was born on 105th and 5th…”—placing her birth on the Upper East Side’s Museum Mile. Her birthplace as listed on NYCourts.gov appears to contradict her own words. She also references in her biography recognition for her decision in J.N. v. T.N. (77 Misc. 3d 894, 182 N.Y.S.3d 497 [N.Y. Sup. Ct. 2022]), claiming it highlights her role in “redressing upon a divorce the real harms of emotional and physical abuse and financial coercive control that occurred during the marriage.” But when you read William D. Cohan’s investigative article (Airmail, Oct. 9, 2021), a much different picture emerges. Cohan, a respected journalist an

KWM actually screamed at the African American female attorney numerous times and shouted at therapist to "SIT DOWN" while motioning with her hands as one motions to a dog. It was brutally painful to watch a White woman Judge treat a black person in such a dehumanizing manner during trial

Judge Waterman-Marshall’s courtroom demeanor is, in a word, appalling. Her conduct during proceedings often lacked compassion or even basic courtesy. This is not just my impression as her behavior in the widely circulated footage with NBC reporter Sarah Wallace speaks volumes. Her reaction to Wallace’s questions, and her claim that she was “accosted,” seem deeply at odds with what is shown on camera, raising legitimate concerns about her judgment and professionalism. More troubling, however, are her actual rulings. I saw firsthand how her decisions frequently contradicted legal precedent and even her own prior decisions. This kind of inconsistency, along with a lack of clear reasoning or preparation, is unsettling. Many of her decisions seemed punitive, arbitrary, and disconnected from the realities that families face during divorce. It is hard to understand how, despite multiple televised reports (including NBC’s “Uncovering Claims of Judicial Misconduct in New York”) and a Change.org petition titled “Remove Judge Kathleen Waterman-Marshall from the Bench,” she remains in her position. Particularly upsetting are the cases of two fathers, one an anesthesiologist, who were sent to Rikers Island simply for not being able to pay their spouse’s legal fees. This is not just a miscarriage of justice but is also a violation of their constitutional right to due process. What’s equally disturbing is the role of the law firms representing the spouses in those cases. How could any ethical attorney advocate for incarceration over unpaid legal fees? While I know state resources are often stretched thin, I also hope New York State considers restitution for the fathers featured in Sarah Wallace’s reports. These are men who appear to have been failed by a system that should have protected their rights.

Judge Waterman Marshall was the worst. The judge before was lazy, but she made the right decision when forced to work. Feels like Waterman Marshall has a god complex where she thinks she can untangle years of marriage without paying attention. She often came to hearings with the decision, which we were there to argue, already typed up!!! I realized it was all setup against me. I got out as fast as possible to save my sanity and kids.

Judge Waterman was a nightmare in my divorce. It felt like she never read anything, she just sided with my ex who had more money. When my attorney tried to fight, she quickly shut her down. Her removal from handling divorces was long overdue - horribly awful experience.

J. Waterman-Marshall shouts at litigants, seems always to favor counsel hailing from "Big Law" firms and to disfavor anyone litigating pro se. She glides past the pleadings, fabricating reason to strike whole pleadings rather than have to deal with separate claims and counterclaims individually. She is impatient, condescending and sometimes outrightly rude. She is incompetent in the matrimonial law and was recently transfered to the plenary part of the NY County Supreme Court, a place she had said to this litigant she wished to avoid, because "matrimonial cases are these neat little things." It is not unlikely that her background [Redacted by Ed.] in the Kings County housing court, then as a judge in that same court, before moving on the Family Court in Kings County, has had a lot to do with her disrepect for solo-attorney lawfirms and for pro se litigants, as well as her intolerance for anyone who might place an "extensive pleading" before her. This judge is [Redacted by Ed.] should be disbarred and removed from the bench. Pity that they didn't get to her before she ruined my case and did so by violating numerous statutes and rules, including the Chief Administrator's Rule of Judicial Conduct.