The Hon. James J. Guida, J.S.C. (Ret.) is privileged to join the firm of LoFaro Carver LLC engaging in Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR), with the primary focus on resolving economic issues in matrimonial disputes.

Judge Guida was appointed to the bench in Bergen County in June 2008 and was assigned to the Family Division, presiding over Juvenile matters and Children in Court cases.  From 2011 to 2019 he was assigned to the Criminal Division presiding over jury trials involving major crimes such as homicide, sexual assault, arson, and narcotics distribution while serving as the vicinage Megan’s Law judge, authorized CDW and wiretap judge. He chaired the Supreme Court’s Criminal Subcommittee on Jury Selection. 

Judge Guida returned to the Family Division in 2019 to preside over matrimonial cases, deciding pendente lite applications, dissolution trials on issues of alimony, equitable distribution, child support, custody and parenting time until his recent retirement from the bench. The Appellate Division affirmed more than 230 of his rulings and several of the judge’s opinions have been published and recognized by the Supreme Court.

Judge Guida obtained his undergraduate degree from Rutgers College and J.D. from New York Law School in 1981. He served as the law clerk for the Hon. James W. Taylor, J.S.C. in Hudson County.  Thereafter, he was employed in private practice with Robert R. Guida, J.S.C. (ret) and as a solo practitioner, including civil trial and appellate litigation, criminal and family litigation; land use; estate litigation, commercial and residential transactions, and representing several municipalities and boards. He served as General Counsel to Unico National and the Unico National Foundation.

The judge is admitted to practice in New York, New Jersey, and the Federal District Court. He is a member of the Bergen County Bar Association and the New Jersey State Bar Association and is an ordained Permanent Deacon of the Catholic Church incardinated in the Archdiocese of Newark and serving his home parish of St. Mary, Rutherford.  The judge and his spouse Anita are lifelong residents of Bergen County.