contact

Hon. Michael A. Donio (Ret.)
620 South White Horse Pike
Sail Lake | Suite B
Hammonton, NJ 08037

o. 609 481 2919 | c. 609 442 1734

mike@doniolaw.com

ABOUT JUDGE MICHAEL A. DONIO

RETIRED JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT

Judge Donio was appointed to the Bench on July 21, 1995 and retired on July 31, 2015. after serving 20 years on the bench. While sitting in the Civil Division for Atlantic and Cape May Counties, he was responsible for a caseload of more than 800 cases a year.Many of those cases were resolved through Settlement Conferences. His approach regarding settlements has been marked by mutual respect for the parties, appropriately making each side aware of the weaknesses and strengths of their respective cases. He was successful in settling many complex, major cases, including those involving construction/premises liability, medical malpractice, slip and fall, tort claims act cases, automobile/negligence and discrimination cases. Before going on the Bench, Judge Donio was an attorney for 17 years and handled primarily civil cases. In 2001, Judge Donio was transferred to the Criminal Division and immediately inherited a caseload of close to 300 active cases. Thereafter, he was able to appropriately lower the active caseload to approximately 150 cases. Many times with the indulgence and help of the Court, guilty pleas were entered before or after jury selection based on conversations with the Court. Judge Donio in 2010 was appointed Presiding Judge of the Criminal Division. As Presiding Judge of the Criminal Division, he was responsible for overseeing all of the Criminal Judges in Cape May and Atlantic County. At the present time, there are seven Criminal Judges in the two counties. The position also entails significant administration responsibilities regarding the two jurisdictions and a role in statewide judicial administration of criminal cases. Atlantic County Criminal Division annually ranks in the top 5% of disposed cases per year in the State. Judge Donio often was assigned and has presided over high-profile cases that are the subject of considerable public and Press interest. During his last year on the bench, these cases have included:

New Jersey vs. Ray Rice

Domestic abuse charges against NFL running back.

New Jersey vs. Shaneen Allen

Pennsylvania Single mother of two, illegal possession of a loaded gun in N.J., resulting in changes to N.J. gun laws.

New Jersey vs. Loretta Burroughs

Convicted of dismembering and murdering her husband.

New Jersey vs. Barbara Lieberman

Embezzlement by former elder care attorney of $3.8 million.