I was very concerned by my experience communicating with attorney James P. Moriarty. During our interaction, I received text messages that I felt were highly unprofessional, insulting, and inappropriate for a licensed attorney. What disturbed me most was that sensitive information involving his clients appeared to be discussed and referenced through text messages sent to my phone number, despite the hostile and informal nature of the communication. In my opinion, attorneys should communicate professionally and protect client confidentiality at all times. Instead of factual, respectful communication, the messages included personal insults, mocking comments, and an aggressive tone that made an already stressful situation much worse. Regardless of the legal matter involved, I believe people deserve to be treated with professionalism and respect. Based on my experience, I would not recommend this attorney to others seeking professional, ethical communication during difficult legal matters. read more

Called my place of employment looking for someone I'd never heard of. Gave me the persons full name- first, middle, and last, like 3 times as if I was incoherent and he needed to repeat himself. When I explained that he had a wrong number, this was a business line, and no one was here by that name, he called back just to let me know that the fact I did not identify myself he found to be a character flaw. Well here I am, identifying myself, Mr Moriarty. Are attorneys really that bored that they spend their time calling to tell a complete stranger about their character flaws? I found our initial communication creepy enough - "have we spoken before... no... wellll then we've got some catching up to do.." like what? Lol no we don't. But then the call back to tell me about my character flaws did it for me. So no, would not recommend this bizarrely unprofessional attorney to anyone. read more

Mr.Moriatry  was the only one who answered my call. Other criminal defense lawyers left me lost in voicemail boxes, wouldn't accept my case for one reason or another, were booked or expected a large sum of money upfront that exceeded my means. He was kind enough to pick me up from jail and help me retrieve my car while a no-contact order was in place. Additionally, having no supports while residing in Iowa City, he managed to gain approval to access my personal funds in order to bail me out of jail. He was, much to my distaste, eager to point out that few lawyers would have gone to such lengths as if he needed to upsell himself.  I'm Black with little money but if you're someone with even an inkling more power or resources than I, you probably wouldn't find yourself at Mr. Moriarty's door. But should you, I would proceed with caution and ensure that your case is one suited for his abilities and personality. It should go without saying that innocent people are sometimes convicted and sentenced to prison. Similarly, even guilty people are not beyond the human fallibility which permits then to make mistakes. I imagine there are murderers even who acted under extreme emotional duress or unusual circumstances who otherwise would not be considered perpetual criminals or dangers to society. Along with "innocent until proven guilty," this sentiment ought to be the primary, guiding principle of any serious and good defense attorney. This concept seemed to have evaded Mr. Moriarty's mind in dealing with my case. He discussed more what he thought I allegedly did wrong than my side of the story, the facts in the case, and potential defenses (or pleas) against the allegations made against me. The most relevant one being that witnesses and police officers have been shown to lie even under oath (hence trials, juries and judges). The first days of knowing one another consisted of him criticizing how he presumed I lived my life and other personality traits he deemed undesirable, under the veil of "preparing me for trial." Some of which might have some merit if he were my father and I his son, but still ignored my side of what happened that gives credence--not justifi39cation as he so thought--to my role in the situation.  I paid Mr. Moriarty to defend me and he agreed to those terms yet somehow, I spent a great deal of time and energy convincing him to hear my story and defend me in spite of this agreement. Mr. Moriarty spent so many "billable" hours analyzing and insulting my character that I thought he was secretly working for the prosecution. Despite being a practicing lawyer for over 40 years, he possesses absolutely no business acumen whatsoever and has apparently not been taught any manners. Mr. Moriarty literally threw a tantrum at my bond review hearing and got into a verbal catfight with another lawyer that was so prepubescent that the competing lawyer struggled to maintained his professionalism, let alone years of experience in becoming a matured adult. Mr. Moriarty uses his years of experience as the reason for his brash candidacy which comes off more like hostility. Some of this hostility I experienced, so I suspect, stems from the fact that my case involved a firearm and Mr. Moriarty's personal views on gun and self-defense laws in the United States. Mr. Moriarty presents himself on his website and other professional profiles as having elite training in trial court. However, some research revealed that 39 years of his career as a lawyer was spent working for himself: approximately 3 years was spent working at other law firms. Judging by his behavior and short stint in which he might have been somewhat employable, I have to wonder whether Mrs. Moriarty is the real breadwinner. I am so convinced that I didn't even bother to call his previous employers for a reference check. I did speak to one of his colleagues within the Johnson County mill (which is really a receptacle for C-average and outright low-IQ law students) and his exact words were "There are lawyers who are competent and lawyers who are incompetent: Mr. Moriarty is incompetent." If you're one who likes to find the good in someone ( or anyone in this case), you might find his aggressiveness beneficial in a trial that has a vying chance or lassoing witnesses whose testimonies and involvements demonstrate pliable weaknesses. Otherwise, Mr. Moriarty cost me an attractive deal in one of my cases because he couldn't open an electronic file the prosecution submitted as evidence. Instead of informing me (his client) of this fact or asking for help, he proceeded blindingly to trial, embarrassing the both us unequally... The rest of my review can be read here: https://1drv.ms/w/s!At4v2QiJm3WbnWZEGbceiqgfKCS2?e=oJOp0M read more

greedy but somewhat knowledgeable. didnt stick with him long enough to know what he was really like. just knew it wouldn't work out.