"The Robing Room: MD State Judges

Hon. Terrence J. McGann	See Rating Details
Associate Judge Circuit Court
Montgomery County 6th Circuit	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 2.4 - 32 rating(s) Non-Attorney Average Rating: 1.0 - 4 rating(s)	Please send me alerts on this judge E-mail Address:

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Only items marked with (*) are averaged into the displayed overall rating.

General Rating Criteria

* Temperament		(1=Awful,10=Excellent)
* Scholarship		(1=Awful,10=Excellent)
* Industriousness		(1=Not at all industrious,10=Highly industrious)
* Ability to Handle Complex Litigation		(1=Awful,10=Excellent)
* Punctuality		(1=Chronically Late,10=Always on Time)
* General Ability to Handle Pre-Trial Matters		(1=Not all Able, 10=Extremely Able)
* General Ability as a Trial Judge		(1=Not all Able, 10=Extremely Able)
Flexibility In Scheduling		(1=Completely Inflexible,10=Very Flexible)

Criminal Rating Criteria (if applicable)

* Evenhandedness in Criminal Litigation		(1=Demonstrates Bias,10=Entirely Evenhanded)
General Inclination Regarding Bail		(1=Pro-Defense,10=Pro-Government)
Involvement in Plea Discussions		(1=Not at all Involved, 10=Very Involved)
General Inclination in Criminal Cases Pretrial Stage		(1=Pro-prosecution,10=Pro-defense)
General Inclination in Criminal Cases Trial Stage		(1=Pro-prosecution,10=Pro-defense)
General Inclination in Criminal Cases Sentencing Stage		(1=Pro-prosecution,10=Pro-defense)

Civil Rating Criteria (if applicable)

* Evenhandedness in Civil Litigation		(1=Not at all Evenhanded,10=Entirely Evenhanded)
Involvement in Settlement Discussions		(1=Not at all Involved,10=Very Involved)
General Inclination		(1=Pro-defendant, 10=Pro-plaintiff)

Comments

What others have said about Hon. Terrence J. McGann

Comments

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: MD1866
Rating:1.0

Comments:
"McGann gives lip service to justice and should be derobed!" This sums up McGann nicely.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD1833
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Wish there was a negative 0 rating. We all know he's a bad judge. Why? If he had a normal child displayed in open court - we'd be calling cps. But having a severely handicapped child displayed is ok w us as lawyers or citizens?? Omg. Think people. Someone call the cops on him please.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD1827
Rating:1.8

Comments:
Very pro-alcoholic in litigation. Literally has been known to allow plaintiff to present his first witness and without cross-examination to announce how he'd be inclined to rule and prevent further testimony.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD1674
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
At least one of the commenters here (see, #941 suggested suggested filing a complaint about McGann with the Honorable Robert M. Bell, the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals. That is a good suggestion. However, a letter to the Honorable John W. Debelius III requesting that McGann receive no further case assignments until an investigation and assessment of his judicial performance to date be undertaken and completed might be a better option and one with quicker results beneficial to the citizens of Maryland and Montgomery County. In his position as Administrative Judge for the Sixth Circuit of Maryland, Judge Debelius is responsible for case assignments in the Montgomery County Circuit Court and, implicit in his responsibility in this regard, is an obligation to assign cases only to qualified judges. I trust that, if any of us decide to write Judge Debelius expressing our concerns about McGann's qualifications as a judge, Judge Debelius will maintain the confidentiality of our communication provided, of course, we ask him to do so.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD1663
Rating:1.0

Comments:
The comments below (#1662) are mine. I inadvertently failed to enter my ratings for this judge but have done so now.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD1662
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
McGann's handling of three Petitions for Judicial Review of Agency Decisions evidence his ignorance, incompetence, indiffernce, indolence, bias, arrogance, and cowardice. McGann allowed his Administrative Assistant (a non-attorney) to write and sign scheduling orders on complex litigation involving Chapter 200 of Md. Rules governing the aforementioned petitions. When I contacted McGann's Administrative Assistant to express my concerns that her scheduling orders violated the Md. Rules, she advised me that I would have to file motions to have McGann consider reversing the unlawful scheduling orders. I filed two motions in this regard which McGann ignored and never ruled on before he summarily dismissed my petitions. The Court of Special Appeals subsequently reversed McGann and reinstated the petitions; whereupon, McGann directed the Clerk's Office to assign the petitions to another judge. This whole process took over three years and gives a whole new meaning to "justice delayed, justice denied!" McGann gives lip service to justice and should be derobed!

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: MD1546
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Same names keep popping up as most incompetent - he's on top. Seriously with so many incomps we should have an easier way of kicking them out. It's a job not taken seriously by idiots like him. So why not have a third strike and you're out. His salary can feed 100 families in MC for a year.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: MD1516
Rating:5.5

Comments:
the comments about this judge's background are unfair. He was a prosecutor in PG county and did a good job. He was then and is now a hard worker. He is clearly pro state in criminal matters and this is fair criticism. It is terrible to be critical of him because his son is seriously disabled, but nepotism in giving that son a county position is totally out of line and gives our entire system a black eye.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD1418
Rating:1.3

Comments:
He belittles and berates parties and lawyers to make himself feel better. He ignores the facts in favor of his own personal bias. He is unable to put aside his own personal prejudices and beliefs and judge a case on its own merit. He is extremely harsh in the delivery of his opinions from the bench. He doesn't understand even the most basic aspects of the law and doesn't care about scientific evidence at all. He tells horrendous stories -- in court -- about his personal life in a lame effort to justify his decisions. I have seen him do this in a courtroom full of people, resulting in several of them exclaiming their astonishment that he got away with it. He appears to make up his mind before he even starts a case, choosing a favorite party right away and then exercising his authority in favor of that party throughout the trial. He is so nasty to parties that it is impossible to find anything respectful to say about him, which is a shame, because we are supposed to foster respect for our judges and the system. I have seen him disallow competent evidence because he had already made up his mind about the case. J. McGann is a fine example of why politics has no place in the appointment of judges. Even a judge with a low IQ and a poor grasp of the law can do a fair job if he is willing to listen to the facts and consider the law that we lawyers so often spoon feed to them. This judge is not willing to do either. He lacks the basic intelligence, judicial temperament, training, experience and human empathy necessary to do a minimally acceptable job.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: MD1338
Rating:2.6

Comments:
No idea how Judge McGann got on the bench. Must have been a political appointment. Either he does not know the law at all or he does not care to follow it. He makes it very clear who he favors and will do whatever he can to cause the Plaintiff to win. Fortunately, his stupidity will give Defendants every appealable issue possible so it is not difficult to have a case remanded for new trial if you are a Defendant. One great example was when I impeached the Plaintiff's expert (on video) and the Plaintiff didn't even try to rehabilitate. Judge McGann excluded that portion of the video because I DIDN'T REHABILITATE THE PLAINTIFF'S WITNESS THAT I HAD JUST IMPEACHED. I wish I was kidding. He is unfair, incompetent, and will waste several days of your time giving you a joke of a trial after which you will have to spend a year getting your appeal and re-trying the entire case. If you are in front of him, I recommend you "get sick" and seek a continuance.

Other

Comment #: MD1306
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Terrance McGann is Montgomery County's incompent judge in my opinion, he deny's the facts, he quick to send innocent people to prison, because he is biased and forms his own opinions on guilt, by not allowing the truth to come out! He denys evidence that should be allowed. He has ruined my family's life. I am a firm believer in reap what you sow, and you Mr. McGann will have your judgement day with the Lord and I pray for the day you get off the bench because you are a biased, prejudice Judge that has no business sitting on the bench!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! P.S. the courtroom is no place to tell jokes, unless your trying to be a jester!

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD1305
Rating:6.5

Comments:
Aside from a few jokes (which can lighten the mood in court), I have found Judge McGann to be serious and thougtful from the bench. I disagree with many of the negative comments posted. He is not the worst judge, especially while Judge Rubin still sits.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD1297
Rating:1.1

Comments:
He's not bright AT ALL. He should be retired because he will never resign.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: MD1279
Rating:1.3

Comments:
Not fit on any measure to serve as judge in this court or any other. Quite possibly one of the top three boob judges in Maryland.

Other

Comment #: MD1269
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge went against the recommendation of the state and probation officers in court. Judge is not supposed to punish the juvenile as he is doing. He is clearly out of control and doesn’t follow procedure.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD1246
Rating:2.3

Comments:
This judge is a pro-father/dad judge in child custody issues. He would do anything to side with a dad even if the person is lying through his teeth. This judge gave horns to my child's father and as a result my daughter went through emotional torture from her father. This was very dismantling for a child who only wanted to be loved by her father. Never seen such open favoritism by a judge whom we are all supposed to trust for fair hearings.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: MD1237
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Worst of the worst in Maryland. Can't think logically on the bench. Can't cite relevant cases unless written down - like a cheat sheet - by his clerks for him IN ADVANCE. Lazy and entitled little man.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD1222
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Great represenative of the mc judiciary. Lazy and entitled. Testified before the legislature about a salary increase for "judges." Moron at best. His bread and better was feeding off PG government collecting child support and PG paid for his and his partner's (Dugan)and their families healthcare insurance. Seriously, stupidest person ever to be appointed and thinks he's underpaid??!! Ultimate in sucking off the government. His son, a vegetable in a wheelchair, designated as token deputy so the government can pay his healthcare - as "rude" as that sounds, when people can't afford to keep their homes and lose their jobs and this idiot wants more than the $150k he makes as a "judge" - a bad judge at best -it's so pathetic!!

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD1195
Rating:1.0

Comments:
The only benefit this Catholic Irishman serves is his Irish Catholic friends before he has to retire. What's wrong with that. You gotta help your own kind. (If McGann reads this, he'd agree and be dumbfounded what the issue is). Dahh.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: MD1173
Rating:3.4

Comments:
This man has no business on the bench. I fear he may be unbalanced. I can say with certainty that he is the worst sort of hip shooter. He is not smart, either. More troubling, though, is his brazen favoritism towards Catholics. I have appeared before him and watched him adjudicate matters from the gallery and in this century, his constant open commentary about people's religion, origins of their names etc. is very disturbing. Get a lawyer with a Catholic last name. I now always make sure I get one on my team if I'm appearing before this man. I've seen him banter with jurors about their good Irish catholic names in open court. I first started paying attention to this issue with him, which I'd previously dismissed as just a quirk, when I had clients figure out that he was in the same church as my opponent & actively working on church mgmt issues with the guy (they and obviously hit the roof over his failure to mention the tie). The only positive thing I can say is he is generally not openly nasty to lawyers. Stay away if you can.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: MD1162
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I don't care what you want to call it - it's still tax dollars wasted for babysitting. Why doesn't the sheriff department just set up a day care and make all court / government employees' dependents honorary deputies. Exactly. The under-the-table special favors of MC court has always been a big problem to its credibility. To outsiders anyway.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: MD1152
Rating:1.0

Comments:
He is a failure in the law. Avoid him at all costs!! It would be malpractice not to at least try to avoid this man in a robe. This has become the sad truth with many MC judges.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: MD1099
Rating:1.0

Comments:
He's jaw dropping - out of bounds, terrible judge.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: MD1096
Rating:1.0

Comments:
just horrible. I'm embarrassed to see such lack of integrity on the bench.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD1066
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I must agree with some of the comments re this judge. MC court system is for insiders. Particularly the old Irish. Everyone else are lesser beings it seems. Some of his rulings are so contrary to law. I've seen him tell counsel on one side to say hello to so and so - wink wink. Appears to be a bureaucrat, just spending time on the bench going about the routine and just being there for his friends. He doesn't seem to care about the nobodies - the general population, just the good old boys.
I do not believe it is appropriate or professional for the court staff to watch / babysit for his adult son all day either. Why is that allowed?

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: MD1055
Rating:10.0

Comments:
I've been before McGann on a few occasions over the last year+... Cannot speak to the personal attacks on his resume/personality, but I found him to be even-handed and respectful.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD1044
Rating:1.0

Comments:
For the record, T. McGann's practice as an attorney was collecting delinquent child support for PG County. The level of legal knowledge required would be that of a paralegal. So please do not make this guy out to be some noble civil servant by having left a mindless practice subsidized by a county government. He's over paid as a "judge" Unfortunately the few good judges are disappearing in MC or will soon be retiring. McGann needs to be taken off the bench. That is how he can serve the public. He's not bright. He doesn't even try to hide his bias. He's a bigot in the most diverse county in the State of Maryland.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: MD1035
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Cannot help but respect this no-nonsense judge. Understanding the general sentiments about Judge McGann being harsh on the defense, I think it is very important that the Bench maintains judges who do not "hover in the grey area." I have appeared in front of McGann a number of times and he has been fair to my clients.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD1033
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Mr. Prosecutor - your comment only adds to the prevailing reputation of McGann of being bias -- that he was nothing more than an inept political appointment. You and your office I am sure will be sad if McGann resigns or retires - hopefully sooner than ever. Until then enjoy the easy ride of locking people up without much thought to the rules, procedure and Constitutional protections afforded the American public. McGann's a moron - right there with "judge" Johnson.
Notwithstanding the above- I have no doubt that when there is a defense attorney with more political clout than your office - you are more likely to offer a fabulous plea to take it away from McGann's lack of "good" judgment.

Prosecutor

Comment #: MD1029
Rating:10.0

Comments:
After decades of experience in private practice, McGann’s decision to serve the people of Montgomery County has been a blessing to the State; degenerates and whiney defense attorneys excluded. MoCo is lucky to have McGann keeping the streets free of criminal scum and the courts free from frivolous lawsuits.

Litigant

Comment #: MD1015
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
How long does it take for anyone to look into the corruption of his son being a criminal defense attorney and his clients are NEVER held accountable. We know what goes on behind closed doors- its the old boys club. Unfortunately, there are innocent people in jail while the real criminals are out on the streets. Money does buy you freedom- but only for so long.

Other

Comment #: MD953
Rating:1.0

Comments:
A very wise man stated, "Good judges 'divorce' their beliefs and views from their decisions." What happened to "judge" McGann--

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD941
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Did this judge ever go to law school? He is a mere politician on the bench. Ignores the law and lacks the understanding of his function - that is - a judge, not god and not a buddy of one side or the other. He behaves as though he is unrestrained by law or procedure. How do you get him off the bench? Or ensure he is relegated to administrative duties where he can't do any more harm until he can retire quietly? (Despite wasting tax-payer money to keep him employed) File a complaint with Chief of Ct of Appeals.

Other

Comment #: MD934
Rating:1.0

Comments:
He his the meanest judge/person I have ever seen. He decides cases before they are heard. I really feel sorry for anyone that comes before him. He is very arrogant and like others have said, if he knows the lawyer trying the case, you stand a better chance. He convicted my 19 year old son to 15 years for a first offence robbery in which he did not posess a weapon and no one was hurt; saying he was going to do what other courts would not do prior to handing him this lengthy unreasonable sentence. He is a very mean man.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD883
Rating:1.1

Comments:
The commentators have a point but you have to play the game in Montgomery County with some of the incompetent judges. Avoid them. But if you can't avoid them - good luck. There is no integrity in Montgomery County.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD875
Rating:1.0

Comments:
the last reviewer was over kind.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD873
Rating:1.6

Comments:
I have concluded that some of the most incompetent circuit court judges are in Montgomery County. McGann is probably in the top 2 most inept judges (first being Judge Eric Johnson). The last comment made by a neutral observer was right on. He simply lacks even the law school training scholarship. Understandably his private practice involved only mindless volume collection of child support from deadbeat parents. But don't these judges have to learn the law, substantive and procedural? McGann, like many MC judges are appointed not for any reason than knowing the right people. We need to adopt a system of appointment like Virginia and DC. Because, comparatively, too many MC judges in particular are incompetent. This disgrace for a judge (McGann) decides cases based on his friendships with the lawyers before him. Bias, prejudiced, and just complete moron. Hate the thought of my tax dollars going toward his overpaid salary!!

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD477
Rating:1.7

Comments:
The Judge appeared to take the bench with his mind made up on a dispositive issue that had neither been raised or briefed by either party. And appears to have made up his mind without the benefit of any research, since his decision was absolutely contrary to 50 years of very clear case law on the issue. He did not want to hear why he might be wrong. I suspect even the successful attorney was left stunned by the Judge's action, for it absolutely guaranteed an appeal.

Note: I was not an attonrey or party involved in the case, so I have no axe to grind. I did, however, read the transcript after I heard about this, since it was an area of the law in which I practice.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: MD445
Rating:2.0

Comments:
Very typical blue blood in Montgomery County. Knowing him is to win. Law matters none. Is it age or what, but how many judges can get away with sexist comments in open court. Status quo in Montogmery County.