Judge Peter Bogaard
Court: Morris County Superior Court
Location: Morristown, New Jersey
Judge Peter Bogaard stands at the center of one of New Jersey’s most shocking family court controversies. In Ciardi v. Bichanich, Bogaard collaborated with the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office to threaten a protective mother with over 30 years in prison—not for abuse, but for alleged misstatements in court filings. The statements involved abuse allegations, which should have been shielded as petitioning activity under the First Amendment.
Despite public outcry and demands for oversight, Bogaard doubled down, issuing gag orders and jailing litigants for social media posts. He is known to have close ties to politically connected attorneys, whom he often favors in rulings. Multiple litigants have accused him of weaponizing contempt powers to punish protective parents, especially mothers.
Legal advocates describe Bogaard as a “judicial enforcer” of corrupt systems. His actions have prompted calls for both judicial discipline and a federal investigation into family court retaliation tactics.
🔗 ALWD-Style Citations:
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Michael Volpe, NJ Judge Tries to Jail Mother for Speaking Out in Family Court, Michael Volpe Investigates, May 2024.
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Richard Luthmann, Judicial Retaliation in New Jersey: The Monica Ciardi Travesty,
