"The Robing Room: NY State Judges

Hon. Lawrence Ecker	See Rating Details
County Court
Westchester County	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 3.0 - 32 rating(s) Non-Attorney Average Rating: 3.0 - 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

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What others have said about Hon. Lawrence Ecker

Comments

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY13635
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Westchester County lost a gem. Excellent judge in getting to a fair outcome.

Litigant

Comment #: NY13078
Rating:1.0

Comments:
erratic, dictatorial, overly punative and ill informed.

I get it you've been happily married for 50+ years - but we are going through a divorce, don't want to be in front of you and simply want a fair and reasoned decision.

This is simply beyond his capabilities.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY12638
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Very good at resolving conflicts.

Litigant

Comment #: NY12637
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Judge Ecker was evenhanded. I don't want to be in litigation again but if I did I would be happy if he were overseeing it.

Litigant

Comment #: NY10341
Rating:1.0

Comments:
One star ratings already given say it all.
In the Foreclosure part he simply doesn't get it and has failed to disclose, in advance, a financial connection to the very Bank whose case he was hearing. An embarrassment to a Court that already has one too many Court staffers who've overstayed their welcome. Also, no clue, as to why he keeps getting extensions (now through 2020) Defendants beware!

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY9675
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Full marks for Judge Ecker. I do not practice much in Westchester but was treated more than fairly in his part.

Civil Litigation - Govt.

Comment #: NY8728
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Always enjoyed appearing in his part. Very smart and sharp judge. Need more like him.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY7961
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Ecker is a true example of what is wrong with the matrimonial court system in NY today. He gives decent judges a bad name.. I have had 3 cases before this hack, all three of my clients were men. Each time Ecker showed by either directly or indirectly (via erroneous decisions). The only way to get him to correct them is to show that you will appeal.

He was bumped down from matrimonial cases to foreclosures at the beginning of the year.. Hopefully he won't be able to do to much damage there.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY7446
Rating:10.0

Comments:
New York State needs more Judges like Judge Ecker. I was before him in a matrimonial case in 2014. Opposing counsel and I thought he was always well prepared and open minded.

Litigant

Comment #: NY6931
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
had him over ruled when a irvington judge by the
appellate term5/16/1995 3-0 94-1696 on a stop sign
ticket took him 30 days to find that i failed to stop at
a 6 sided stop sign on mountain road. his brother louis is just as bad

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY6840
Rating:1.0

Comments:
One of New York's less industrious and capable judges. How this type of biased and incapable buffoon got on the bench is a mystery.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY6833
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I've had multiple cases before this "Judge", all I can say is it amazes me each time how unaware he is regarding the concept of equitable distributions and child custody. He is very biased against male litigants and very very ill tempered..

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY6829
Rating:8.8

Comments:
I've had several matrimonial cases before Judge Ecker, including a trial. In my experience he's been evenhanded.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY6686
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Judge Ecker is one of those examples where you have to shake your head and wonder how he got on the bench. Was he born an idiot, or is it old age. Based on what people who have dealt with him for years, he seems to have been born an idiot.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY6668
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Wish we could give negative scores on this site, it would come in handy for rating people like Ecker. All around he is just bad.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY6659
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Judge Ecker is the a perfect example of what is wrong with our legal system. He is one of the "bad apples" that ruin it for those of us trying to keep the system honest, fair and bout justice.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY6643
Rating:1.0

Comments:
It is mind-blowing how biased Ecker is, he clearly does not read any papers put before him. He treats the men in cases as they are criminals.
is unfit for any position requiring ethics.
He is a horror, particularly for children who have the misfortune of being subject to his orders or impacted by custody orders that will favor women whether they are fit or not to be a primary caretaker

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY6632
Rating:1.0

Comments:
It will be a good day for the legal system when this characters leaves the bench and the profession.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY6621
Rating:1.0

Comments:
A biased and lazy judge, does not read motions and is biased aganst men. He is facing madatory retirement in 2016, hopefully he will go quietly in thet good night and not fight for a two year exception

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY6619
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Dangerously incompetent and inaccurate in both his grasp of and dispensing of the law. He is abusive, mean spirited, and arrogant: Easy pickings for judicial disciplinary committee sanction, admonishment, and removal. The sooner the better. An embarrassment to the legal profession.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY6607
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Ecker is a real piece of work, people like him getting on the bench is a real black eye to the legal system

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY6605
Rating:1.0

Comments:
He definitely has it in for men. Ignores evidence in their favor "by accident' and then hinders correction by his catch phrase "we are moving forward"

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY6604
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Have only been practicing law for 6 years, but law school does not equip you to deal with "judges" like Ecker. He is ill tempered, ignorant and does not seem to know the law,

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY6599
Rating:1.1

Comments:
It was a sad day when this clown got appointed to be a Judge.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY6597
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Judge Ecker is one great example of why the system is said to be "broken". An awful judge all the way around

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY6596
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I dread appearances before "lord Ecker". He never reads motions, relies on his court jester "Steinberg", has a bad temper and is biased..

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY6594
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I'll tempered and not a god fit for the bench for many reasons, one of which seem to be his lack of a handle n current matrimonial law

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY6564
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Have gone the comments here, I can only say the one positive comment must be Ecker himself.
The bad / negative comments here, are all right on the mark. The only thing I can add, is Ecker constanty decides casesbased on ex-parte discussion, a violation of not only the law but of judicial ethics.... thanks goodness he is up for mandatory retirement soon, He should be removed from the bench and disbarred so that he cannot do anymore damage, my heart goes out to the Men that appear before him.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY6521
Rating:1.0

Comments:
In my over 25 years of practicing law, never have i come across such a biased and ignorant Judge. He either has no grasp of key principles of custody, equitable distribution or chooses to willfully ignore them in favor of women in his court. He is clearly biased against men.
What is clear is that he does not read motions, instead he decides them in such a manner that suites his own preconceptions and biases, leaving the written finding without proper written basis in the law.
He also does not take the advice of his own court appointed experts, if they favor the husband. One case I had before Judge Ecker clearly showed the mother to be abusive and unstable and not a fit custodian for her two children. Ecker ignored it and gave custody to the mother.
Several times I have attempted to politely call attention to errors of fact or law, which he made. At which point he becomes terse and/or belligerent. He then will bark "we are moving forward". When I pressed him on one key point (which he clearly had wrong), he actually began be get belligerent.
I pity the men who have their matrimonial matters before this "judge". The best word to sum him up is "troglodyte".

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY6284
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Judge Ecker is that rare combination of incompetence, bias and poor temperament that gives our judicial system a "black" eye. Fortunately he is up for mandatory retirement in 2016.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY6276
Rating:1.1

Comments:
I've had several appearances before Judge Ecker, and I have to say each time I do I wish I had become a doctor or a plumber... He is often confused and does not have a handle on the facts. He certainly does not read the material in motions of memorandum of law. Does not like to have his mistakes pointed out. He picks the information he feels justifies his favoring the female litigant.. Just a very ignorant and cantankerous excuse of a person.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY6265
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Judge Ecker is competent, and fair to both parties. He goes to great lengths to facilitate settlements and resolve matters before trial.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY5903
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I am not sure what I can add that has not already been stated... This "judge" is nothing more than a black-robed buffoon. I would give him less than a one-star rating if the system let me.

I good example is his "Thwaites" decision where he attempted to undermine the parole boards

decision not to grant Parole... Good old Larry decides to say the parole board made a
mistake, based on Larry retroactively applying a new law that was clearly intended to be
applied prospectively. Since then several parolees have tried to use "Thwaites" as a
citation... every other Judge has shot it down saying "Karry got it wrong". The appellate
division even stated Larry was wrong in at least 2 cases: MATTER OF DAVIDSON v. Evans, 104
AD 3d 1046 - NY: Appellate Div., 3rd Dept. 2013, MATTER OF SINGH v. Evans, 2013 NY Slip Op
4665 - NY: Appellate Div., 3rd Dept. 2013.

I know first hand that the other judges in Westchester think he is an idiot, dislike
and avoid him. He is however (and everyone knows) friends with the administrative law
judge, who is letting him keep his job until he retires in 2 years. He pretty much does
whatever he wants, no matter the damage to the reputation of the court.

He makes a mockery of the judicial system, and other judges should be embarrassed that he
is permitted to call himself a judge. I cannot say enough bad things about this bad person.

A mentally defective
monkey flinging "poo" would dispense better justice....

Other judges are embarrassed that he is permitted to call himself a judge. I cannot say
enough bad things about Ecker.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY5839
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Awful ill tempered Judge who seems to have a self control issue. Makes inappropriate comments/ This judge who only gives children to their mother's care for no reason other than malice. States things on one record contrary to what is stated on another record. His Court Attorney, Dave Steinberg, really runs the show. He is arrogant and has no knowledge of the law, doesn't read the motions, hasn't a clue what is going on, and then still renders a decision full of errors. Threatens those try and correct his errors. Ecker ruins children's lives by ignoring any aspect of forensics that are in the father's favor, or the whole report if it says the father should have primary custody. He should not be on the bench, if you can avoid this judge, run, don't walk, and don't look back!

Litigant

Comment #: NY5769
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Judge Ecker seems to do what he wants, even if his decisions run contrary to the law, or standard practice, and accepted formulas.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY5747
Rating:1.1

Comments:
udge Ecker's lack of knowledge and incompetence is painful to deal with.

I just wish there were "negative" numbers for some of these rating rather than 1 to 10.

Judge Ecker gets extremely hostile when you correct him for critical issues. His catch phase to avoid being corrected is that "We are moving forward, not backwards". It's astounding this man is on the bench.

He is very much against male litigants in matrimonial matters.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY5746
Rating:1.5

Comments:
Ecker's lack of judicial competence seems vast, but is completely overshadowed by his bias against the male litigants in his court. In cases where a litigant is female, he will make errors in her favor, claiming he is not aware that DRL236B is on applicable prospectively for cases filed after Oct 2010. For male litigant's who have filed in 2012, he will then claim he is not aware DRL236B is mandatory... He has also repeatedly granted attorney fees for "friends" in matrimonial matters, even though their is no signed retainer and it was brought to his attention. In summary, Ecker makes so many mistakes he even had to have a sign put up no his bench to say "Were moving forward" to help reduce the number of times people try and put him on the right track.

Litigant

Comment #: NY5536
Rating:1.0

Comments:
He seems to have a distain for male litigants in divorce that matches his distain for the law, and simple math. His ruling on Pendente Lite Relief was nothing more than criminal from my perspective.