By Richard Luthmann
New Jersey mother Monica Ciardi remains behind bars after a secretive and confusing legal proceeding in Essex County on February 11, raising serious concerns about judicial transparency and the legality of her continued detention.
Assignment Judge Sheila A. Venable, the top judge in Essex County with full powers over civil and criminal matters, presided over part of the hearing. Judge Venable refused to address critical issues related to Ciardi’s indictment and incarceration.
Meanwhile, Judge Mark S. Ali denied Ciardi’s release in a later proceeding shrouded in secrecy. Court watchers and the press were shut out, as no public Zoom link or live stream was provided.
Calls to Judge Ali’s chambers went unanswered, as Ciardi’s fate was determined behind closed doors.
Confusion in the Courtroom
The hearing was initially scheduled on Zoom, which allowed public access. However, minutes before it began, it was moved to a live stream, causing chaos among court watchers and supporters.
During the hearing before Judge Venable, Ciardi attempted to raise concerns about an agreement she allegedly reached with Somerset County Prosecutor John McDonald, which could have led to her release. She also alerted the court that correctional officers at Essex County Jail were leaking her personal information across the cell block.
While acknowledging the issues, Judge Venable declined to hear them, stating that she would only address the Rosenblum/Vexatious Litigation motion filed by Ciardi’s ex-husband, John Uanis.
“The only vexatious litigant here is John Uanis,” said investigative journalist Richard Luthmann, who provided legal analysis during the live stream. “Seeing Monica’s appearance today, I don’t think she could litigate her way out of a paper bag. She’s been in jail for four months without access to legal resources—this motion should be dropped immediately.”
Judge Venable scheduled an April 15 hearing for the Rosenblum motion but did not intervene in Monica’s criminal detention. Instead, she deferred to Judge Mark S. Ali, the Essex County Criminal Division judge assigned to her case.
Despite the initial confusion surrounding switching from a Zoom hearing to a Live Stream on NJCourts.gov, Judge Venable and Court Attorney Robert Tousignant made commendable efforts to inform court watchers and ensure public access.
Recognizing the importance of transparency, Tousignant personally responded to inquiries, guiding attendees on accessing the hearing. Judge Venable was patient and accommodating, allowing supporters time to adjust to the last-minute procedural changes.
While the abrupt shift caused understandable frustration, the court’s proactive communication helped ensure the hearing remained publicly accessible, reinforcing the judiciary’s commitment to openness in Ciardi’s case.
Presiding Criminal Term Judge Mark S. Ali was the exact opposite.
Secret Hearing Before Judge Ali—Why the Blackout?
After concluding the Rosenblum motion, Ciardi was scheduled to appear before Judge Ali for a criminal pretrial hearing. But this time, there was no public access.
No Zoom link was provided.
No live stream was available on NJCourts.gov.
Calls to chambers at (973) 776-9464 went unanswered.
Then, the bombshell: Judge Ali denied Ciardi’s release.
Adding insult to injury, Judge Ali ordered Ciardi to submit three financial affidavits to determine whether she qualifies for public defender representation.
“She’s already been locked up for months,” said David Weigel, activist and founder of the Family Court Fraud Warrior Project. “Now they want to strip her of a court-appointed lawyer? This is not justice—this is a political persecution.”
Where Is the Indictment?
Serious questions remain about the legality of Monica’s indictment.
On January 7, Judge Stuart Minkowitz transferred her case from Morris County to Essex County due to conflicts of interest. That transfer should have ended Morris County’s involvement.
However, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office continued grand jury proceedings and illegally obtained an indictment on January 22—weeks after losing jurisdiction.
“This indictment should be thrown out immediately,” said a New Jersey defense attorney speaking under conditions of anonymity. “Morris County had no jurisdiction, yet they moved forward anyway. That’s illegal.”
To make matters worse, Morris County Assistant Prosecutor Jessica Marshall appears to have misrepresented the facts to the New Jersey Public Defender’s Office, falsely claiming that the indictment had been properly handled in Essex County.
"Where is the indictment?" asked one of Ciardi’s supporters. “If it was done in Essex, where’s the paperwork? Why is she still in jail if it was done improperly in Morris?”
Is Monica a Medicated Zombie?
Activists are now sounding the alarm over Ciardi’s deteriorating health.
“She didn’t look great,” said a source who personally knows Ciardi. “She seemed a bit confused. My fear is she’s being pumped full of drugs she was never prescribed before jail.
Sources inside Essex County Jail confirm that Ciardi has been heavily medicated, raising concerns that authorities are deliberately trying to incapacitate her.
“This is beyond inhumane,” Weigel said. “This is state-sanctioned abuse.”
Public Demands Transparency—Call for Open Proceedings
Family Court watchers and the general public are all urged to demand transparency in Ciardi’s case.
CALL JUDGE ALI’S CHAMBERS: (973) 776-9464
Ask that all future proceedings for Monica Ciardi be publicly noticed in advance, open to the public, and live-streamed.
The legal authority to mention includes Richmond Newspapers v. Virginia (U.S. Supreme Court) and In re VV Pub. Corp (N.J. Supreme Court).
“The people deserve transparency,” said one legal expert. “Secret hearings are unconstitutional.”
Valentine’s Day Protest: Demand Justice for Monica
The Family Court Fraud Warrior Project is organizing a massive protest this Friday to demand Ciardi’s immediate release and to expose the corruption keeping her locked up.
📍 Morris County Courthouse - 10 Court St, Morristown, NJ 07960
📅 Friday, February 14, 2025
⏰ 11:00 AM
“We’re making it clear: We will not let Monica be forgotten,” said Weigel. “She is a political prisoner, a victim of corrupt prosecutors and rogue judges. We’re fighting for her freedom and the freedom of all Family Court hostages, and we won’t stop.”
A System on Trial
The real criminals in this case appear to be the judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officials who conspired to keep Monica Ciardi behind bars.
“This is the biggest disgrace in New Jersey legal history,” Weigel said. “If these people think they can bury this in darkness, they’re wrong. We’re shining the light of public scrutiny on this case until Monica walks free.”
Will Judge Sheila Venable and Judge Mark Ali stand for justice—or are they just more corrupt pawns in New Jersey’s weaponized courts?
The world is watching.
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