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THE ROBING ROOM
where judges are judged
Hon. Geraldine Soat Brown
Magistrate judge
N.D.Ill.
7th Circuit
Average Rating:
5.5
-
30
rating(s)
rating submitted
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Ratings:
What others have rated
Hon. Geraldine Soat Brown
evaluator
ID
date
Temp* Sch* Indu* Comp* Punct* Ev-Cv* Ev-Cr* Flex Bail Crim Settle Trial Sent Coop Average
Civil Litigation - Private
20897
1/2/13
9
9
8
0
10
10
0
8
0
0
7
0
0
0
9.2
Civil Litigation - Private
20780
1/2/13
10
9
9
10
10
10
0
9
0
0
10
0
0
0
9.7
Civil Litigation - Private
19825
1/2/13
9
10
10
10
10
10
0
10
0
0
10
0
0
0
9.8
Civil Litigation - Govt.
19385
1/2/13
1
1
5
1
5
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
2.3
Civil Litigation - Private
19160
1/2/12
9
10
10
10
10
10
0
10
0
0
10
0
0
0
9.8
Civil Litigation - Private
18934
1/2/12
10
10
10
10
10
10
0
10
0
0
10
0
0
0
10
Civil Litigation - Private
18943
1/2/12
6
7
7
7
3
5
0
0
0
0
7
0
0
0
5.8
Civil Litigation - Private
18898
1/2/12
4
3
7
3
10
2
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
4.8
Civil Litigation - Govt.
13062
1/3/11
9
9
10
10
10
10
0
10
0
0
10
0
0
0
9.7
Civil Litigation - Private
12962
1/1/11
1
1
1
1
4
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1.5
Civil Litigation - Private
11517
1/1/10
8
7
8
7
8
10
0
0
0
0
10
0
0
0
8
Civil Litigation - Private
11200
1/1/10
10
10
10
10
10
10
0
8
0
0
10
0
0
0
10
Civil Litigation - Private
8579
1/2/09
8
9
8
0
9
10
0
8
0
0
1
0
0
0
8.8
Civil Litigation - Private
8360
1/1/09
8
0
8
8
10
10
0
8
0
0
10
0
0
0
8.8
Court Staff
8330
1/1/09
1
3
2
1
7
2
1
1
2
2
8
0
0
0
2.4
Civil Litigation - Private
7655
1/2/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
7592
1/2/08
4
3
4
1
8
1
0
8
0
0
0
0
0
0
3.5
Civil Litigation - Private
5882
1/2/08
9
8
9
10
10
10
0
10
0
0
10
0
0
0
8
Civil Litigation - Private
5888
1/2/08
2
2
2
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Civil Litigation - Private
5615
1/2/08
1
1
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
category average
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
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Items marked with (*) are averaged into the displayed overall rating
Fam
Par
Qu-Arg
At-Arg
Sch
Cri
Civ
Lab
Imm
How familiar are you with the work of this judge? (1=Not at all familiar,10=Extremely familiar)
Participates in Oral Argument (1=Rarely,10=Always)
Quality of Questions During Oral Argument (1=Poor,10=Extremely insightful)
Attitude during oral argument (1=Consistently inappropriate,10=Consistently respectful)
Scholarship as reflected in Opinions (1=Poor,10=Outstanding)
General Inclination in Criminal Appeals (1=Strongly ProGovernment,10=Strongly ProDefense)
General Inclination in Civil Rights Appeals (1=Strongly Pro-Defendant,10=Strongly ProPlaintiff)
General Inclination in Labor Law Appeals (1=Strongly ProEmployee,10=Strongly ProEmployer)
General Inclination in Immigration Appeals (1=Strongly ProImmigrant,10=Strongly ProGov.)
evaluator
ID
date
Fam Par Qu-Arg At-Arg Sch Cri Civ Lab Imm
Civil Litigation - Private
20897
1/2/13
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
20780
1/2/13
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
19825
1/2/13
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Govt.
19385
1/2/13
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
19160
1/2/12
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
18934
1/2/12
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
18943
1/2/12
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
18898
1/2/12
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Govt.
13062
1/3/11
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
12962
1/1/11
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
11517
1/1/10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
11200
1/1/10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
8579
1/2/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
8360
1/1/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Court Staff
8330
1/1/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
7655
1/2/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
7592
1/2/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
5882
1/2/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
5888
1/2/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
5615
1/2/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
category average
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Non-lawyer Rating
(if applicable)
evaluator
ID
date
Rating
Other
7701
1/2/09
10
Other
5864
1/1/08
10
category average
-
Temp*
Sch*
Indu*
Comp*
Punct*
Ev-Cv*
Ev-Cr*
Flex
Bail
Crim
Settle
Trial
Sent
Coop
Temperament (1=Awful 10=Excellent)
Scholarship (1=Awful 10=Excellent)
Industriousness (1=Not at all industrious 10=Highly industrious)
Ability to Handle Complex Litigation (1=Awful 10=Excellent)
Punctuality (1=Chronically Late 10=Always on Time)
Evenhandedness in Civil Litigation (1=Demonstrates Bias 10=Entirely Evenhanded)
Evenhandedness in Criminal Litigation (1=Demonstrates Bias 10=Entirely Evenhanded)
Flexibility in Scheduling (1=Completely Inflexible 10=Very Flexible)
General Inclination Regarding Bail (1=Pro-Defense 10=Pro-Government)
General Inclination in Criminal Cases Pre-Trial (1=Pro-Defense 10=Pro-Government)
Involvement in Civil Settlement Discussions (1=Least Involved 10=Most Involved)
General Inclination in Criminal Cases Trial (1=Pro-Defense 10=Pro-Government)
General Inclination in Criminal Cases Sentencing (1=Pro-Defense 10=Pro-Government)
Typical Discount Off Guidelines for Cooperators (1=10% 10=100%)
comments1
Comments:
What others have said about
Hon. Geraldine Soat Brown
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
20897
rating:
9.2
Judge Brown will follow the rules. For many civil litigants that can be a shock. She is thoughtful in making her decisions. She can be rattled a bit, but is a very solid judge and an asset to the bench. Lucky to get her.
1/2/13, 6:28 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
20780
rating:
9.7
Finest magistrate judge in the district. No question about it.
1/2/13, 3:05 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
19825
rating:
9.8
Smart, careful, fair, and diligent. Tough on incompetents, but good lawyers love her. Everything you could want in a judge.
1/2/13, 1:53 PM
Civil Litigation - Govt.
comment #:
19385
rating:
2.3
A horrible, horrible judge in civil matters. One of the worst I've ever appeared in front of, and that includes the Circus Court of Cook County.
1/2/13, 5:36 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
19160
rating:
9.8
People who think this judge is rigid or cold are mistaking rigidity and coldness for high standards. She knows how to practice law, and so she expects lawyers to know and follow the rules. Lawyers who aren't adequately prepared often find judges who know what they're doing 'rigid' or 'cold' -- or 'elitist,' for that matter, although there's nothing particularly elitist about preferring capable lawyers to lawyers who aren't. Keep up the good work, Judge Brown.
1/2/12, 3:49 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
18934
rating:
10
Outstanding in every way. I'm a big fan and have been for years.
1/2/12, 5:38 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
18943
rating:
5.8
Rigid, cold, elitist fish who LOVES all the trappings of being a judge.
1/2/12, 3:33 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
18898
rating:
4.8
Not strong. Should not become an Article lll judge. Corporate defendant biased. Prejudges and sticks with her initial view.
1/2/12, 5:26 PM
Civil Litigation - Govt.
comment #:
13062
rating:
9.7
Perhaps the best magistrate judge in the district, certainly one of the hardest-working, and the criticisms here are incomprehensible. If there is a judge at any level who takes the job more seriously, I haven't met him.
1/3/11, 12:13 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
12962
rating:
1.5
She nearly began to cry at a settlement conference involving a case that resolved in the $10k-$20k range. Simply put, she does not exhibit the skill required to be a judge.
1/1/11, 3:00 PM