Judge Thomas J. O’Neill
Court: Bridgeport Superior Court
Location: Bridgeport, Connecticut
Judge Thomas O’Neill, nicknamed “Steal” by whistleblowers, is criticized for weaponizing Connecticut’s domestic violence statutes against protective mothers. In the Ambrose v. Riordan case, O’Neill granted restraining orders filed by a father against his children—then barred the mother from seeing them for a year, without hearing the teenagers. Confidential court recordings show he ignored the children’s wishes and expert testimony that the mother posed no threat.
Once the children fled to their maternal grandfather, O’Neill pursued contempt proceedings against the mother—despite no evidence. Critics say he treated the courtroom as a “cash-for-kids factory,” siding with high-priced attorneys over family welfare. Frank Parlato described his court as “broken compass where children run and money wins,” alleging a RICO-style nexus between O’Neill, attorneys, and evaluators.
🔗 ALWD-Style Citations
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Richard Luthmann, “CT Judge’s Misogyny Shines as He Twists Jennifer’s Law”, Substack (Nov. 2024)
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Frank Parlato, “Family Court Judge O’Neill’s Broken Compass”, Frank Report (Aug. 30, 2023)
