A state appeals court on Tuesday overturned a $500 Special Civil Part judgment because the judge crossed the line into advocacy in his questioning of unrepresented litigants.

Passaic County Superior Court Judge Bruno Mongiardo’s “domination” of the proceedings prevented the parties from fairly presenting evidence and from cross-examining each other and a nonparty witness, and “left the factual underpinning of the claims and defenses in doubt,” the panel said in Mastropole v. Giunta, A-1266-10.