The Honorable Phillip J. Maenza is a retired New Jersey Superior Court Judge and of counsel with Weinberger Divorce & Family Law Group.
Judge Maenza has practiced law for over 42 years and for a decade served on the bench in the Superior Court of New Jersey in all divisions including the Family Division where he presided over thousands of divorce and family law cases, including child custody disputes, adoptions, domestic violence matters, asset division and post-divorce litigation, and countless related family law matters.
As an arbitrator and mediator, Judge Maenza draws upon his vast legal experience to provide a fair, thoughtful and amiable atmosphere where parties can be heard and fruitful avenues for resolution can be explored. In mediation sessions, Judge Maenza asks deeper questions and facilitates productive dialogue so that parties are able to create an equitable and fulfilling blueprint for resolving their matter. When called upon to serve as arbitrator for those seeking to have a complex divorce or family law matter decided by an experienced judge in a private setting, Judge Maenza fully immerses himself in the matter and provides the great care and attention needed to objectively and efficiently render a reasoned decision.
Judge Maenza understands how personally difficult and significant divorce and family law matters are in people’s lives, and because of this, brings great empathy and common sense to his work. He is results-driven and diligently focused on helping people cut through the red tape of the legal system so they can move on with their lives in a positive way.
Among his distinguished career achievements, Judge Maenza has written over 50 appellate briefs as a lawyer, served for over 20 years as a Municipal Court Judge in many courts, and has mediated significant numbers of divorce matters, civil suits, commercial litigation, and consumer claims for the courts, the American Arbitration Association, and the Better Business Bureau. He was a volunteer member of one of the first Early Settlement Panels in Bergen County in 1980 under Judge Harvey Sorkow. Judge Maenza is a current member of the Barry Croland Inns of Court as well as the NJ Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the New Jersey Association for Justice, and the Morris County Bar Association.
As an active and longtime volunteer in the New Jersey community, Judge Maenza co-founded the Women’s Haven and Family Services, an organization which provided shelter and family services for battered women in Paterson. He served as the organization’s president for five years and was awarded the Statewide Professional Volunteer of the Year Award in 1984 from the New Jersey Coalition for Battered Women.
Judge Maenza is a recognized lecturer in the court and volunteers at local high schools, and colleges, speaking on a variety of legal issues that impact young adults. Since 2018, Judge Maenza has served as an Adjunct Professor of Paralegal Studies for Family Law at Montclair State University.
Prior to being a judge, Philip Maenza was an active member of the Knights of Columbus, a member of the Cedar Grove Volunteer Fire Department, and President of Cub Scout Pack 20. He also served as a member of the East Hanover Board of Education, Planning Board, the Cable Advisory Committee, coached several intramural sports teams and served as Deputy Mayor for the Township of East Hanover
