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Hon. Paul A. Zoss
Magistrate judge
N.D.Iowa
8th Circuit
Average Rating:
6.6
 -
15
rating(s)

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Comment:

Rating:

*Temperament:  
*Scholarship: 
*Industriousness: 
*Ability to Handle Complex Litigation:  
*Punctuality:  
*Evenhandedness in Civil Litigation:  
*Evenhandedness in Criminal Litigation: 
Flexibility In Scheduling 
General Inclination Regarding Bail
General Incl. in Criminal Cases, Pre-Trial: 
Involvement in Civil Settlement Discussions:

General Incl. in Criminal Cases, Trial:

General Incl. in Criminal Cases, Sentencing:

Typical Discount Off Guidelines for Cooperators:

  Items marked with (*) are averaged into the displayed overall rating

(1=Awful,10=Excellent)
(1=Awful,10=Excellent)
(1=Not at all industrious,10=Highly industrious)
(1=Awful,10=Excellent)
(1=Chronic`y Late,10=Always on Time)
(1=Demonstrates Bias,10=Entirely Evenhanded)
(1=Demonstrates Bias,10=Entirely Evenhanded)
(1=Completely Inflexible,10=Very Flexible)
(1=Pro-Defense,10=Pro-Government)
(1=Pro-Defense,10=Pro-Government)
(1=Least Involved,10=Most Involved)

(1=Pro-Defense,10=Pro-Government)

(1=Most Lenient,10=Most Harsh)

(1=10%,10=100%)

How familiar are you with the work of this judge?:
Participates in Oral Argument:
Quality of Questions During Oral Argument:
Attitude during oral argument:

Scholarship as reflected in Opinions:

General Inclination in Criminal Appeals:

General Inclination in Civil Rights Appeals:

General Inclination in Labor Law Appeals:

General Inclination in Immigration Appeals:

(1=Not at all familiar,10=Extremely familiar)

(1=Rarely,10=Always)

(1=Poor,10=Extremely insightful)

(1=Consistently inappropriate,10=Cons. respectful)

(1=Poor,10=Outstanding)

(1=Strongly Pro­Government,10=Strongly Pro­Defense)

(1=Strongly Pro-Defendant,10=Strongly Pro­Plaintiff)

(1=Strongly Pro­Employee,10=Strongly Pro­Employer)

(1=Strongly Pro­Immigrant,10=Strongly Pro­Gov.)

Non-lawyer rating (if applicable)

(1= worst, 10=best)

Ratings:

What others have rated

Hon. Paul A. Zoss

evaluator

ID

date
Temp*  Sch*  Indu* Comp*   Punct*    Ev-Cv*   Ev-Cr* Flex  Bail  Crim  Settle Trial Sent Coop Average
Criminal Defense Lawyer

5937

1/2/08

10

7

3

3

5

0

8

7

3

8

0

0
0
0

6

read comment
Criminal Defense Lawyer

5447

1/2/07

10

8

4

10

7

0

9

9

3

5

0

0
0
0

8

read comment
Civil Litigation - Private

5117

1/2/07

10

9

2

2

2

5

0

8

0

0

10

0
0
0

5

read comment
Civil Litigation - Private

3747

1/2/07

9

7

7

8

7

10

0

9

0

0

0

0
0
0

8

read comment
Civil Litigation - Private

3136

1/2/06

9

6

3

5

6

8

0

8

0

0

10

0
0
0

6.2

read comment
Civil Litigation - Private

2928

1/1/06

8

4

2

0

6

9

0

0

0

0

10

0
0
0

5.8

read comment
Criminal Defense Lawyer

2804

1/2/06

9

7

4

0

7

10

0

0

0

0

0

0
0
0

7.4

read comment
Criminal Defense Lawyer

2769

1/2/06

8

8

3

0

4

0

7

8

2

2

0

0
0
0

6

read comment
Criminal Defense Lawyer

2546

1/2/06

8

6

4

5

5

0

4

6

5

5

0

0
0
0

5.3

read comment
Civil Litigation - Private

2459

1/2/06

9

3

2

3

4

7

0

3

0

0

0

0
0
0

4.7

read comment
Criminal Defense Lawyer

2197

1/1/06

9

6

5

6

7

0

7

4

4

4

10

0
0
0

6.7

read comment
Civil Litigation - Private

2220

1/2/06

6

4

3

0

3

5

0

4

0

0

10

0
0
0

4.2

read comment
Civil Litigation - Private

2142

1/1/06

9

7

7

9

6

9

0

6

0

0

10

0
0
0

7.8

read comment
Criminal Defense Lawyer

2182

1/2/06

9

7

7

9

9

9

0

0

3

3

9

0
0
0

8.3

read comment
Criminal Defense Lawyer

1790

1/2/06

9

10

9

10

10

10

10

10

5

5

10

0
0
0

9.7

read comment
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
Criminal Defense Lawyer

5937

1/2/08

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

read comment
Criminal Defense Lawyer

5447

1/2/07

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

read comment
Civil Litigation - Private

5117

1/2/07

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

read comment
Civil Litigation - Private

3747

1/2/07

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

read comment
Civil Litigation - Private

3136

1/2/06

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

read comment
Civil Litigation - Private

2928

1/1/06

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

read comment
Criminal Defense Lawyer

2804

1/2/06

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

read comment
Criminal Defense Lawyer

2769

1/2/06

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

read comment
Criminal Defense Lawyer

2546

1/2/06

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

read comment
Civil Litigation - Private

2459

1/2/06

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

read comment
Criminal Defense Lawyer

2197

1/1/06

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

read comment
Civil Litigation - Private

2220

1/2/06

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

read comment
Civil Litigation - Private

2142

1/1/06

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

read comment
Criminal Defense Lawyer

2182

1/2/06

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

read comment
Criminal Defense Lawyer

1790

1/2/06

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

read comment
category average

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Non-lawyer Rating 
(if applicable)

evaluator

ID

date
Rating
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. Paul A. Zoss

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Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
5937
rating:
6
average rating is 3 out of 5
average rating is 3 out of 5
A very good magistrate judge. Very fair but goes too easy on the AUSAs.
1/2/08, 3:55 PM
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Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
5447
rating:
8
average rating is 3 out of 5
average rating is 3 out of 5
Excellent magistrate. Very impartial and does not kiss the feet of the AUSA's like some judges, Calls it the way he sees it. Treats defendants with the utmost respect.
1/2/07, 11:25 AM
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Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
5117
rating:
5
average rating is 3 out of 5
average rating is 3 out of 5
1/2/07, 12:39 PM
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Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
3747
rating:
8
average rating is 3 out of 5
average rating is 3 out of 5
1/2/07, 7:53 AM
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Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
3136
rating:
6.2
average rating is 3 out of 5
average rating is 3 out of 5
Seems to often take a middle position - likes to split the baby to make everyone happy. Not the best for making a really tough call. Excellent in settlement conferences - really listens to the parties and takes enough time to get them settled.
1/2/06, 10:34 PM
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Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
2928
rating:
5.8
average rating is 3 out of 5
average rating is 3 out of 5
1/1/06, 12:40 PM
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Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
2804
rating:
7.4
average rating is 3 out of 5
average rating is 3 out of 5
1/2/06, 8:03 PM
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Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
2769
rating:
6
average rating is 3 out of 5
average rating is 3 out of 5
1/2/06, 8:46 AM
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Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
2546
rating:
5.3
average rating is 3 out of 5
average rating is 3 out of 5
1/2/06, 9:08 PM
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Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
2459
rating:
4.7
average rating is 3 out of 5
average rating is 3 out of 5
1/2/06, 5:21 PM
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Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
2197
rating:
6.7
average rating is 3 out of 5
average rating is 3 out of 5
1/1/06, 7:39 PM
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Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
2220
rating:
4.2
average rating is 3 out of 5
average rating is 3 out of 5
A fair judge. Nice man
1/2/06, 12:53 AM
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Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
2142
rating:
7.8
average rating is 3 out of 5
average rating is 3 out of 5
A very good settlement judge. Knows how to settle tough cases. A little too wishy-washy. Seems to me he tries too hard to please everybody because he wants all to like him, tough time with tough decisions and tends to split the baby to make everybody happy.
1/1/06, 1:09 PM
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Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
2182
rating:
8.3
average rating is 3 out of 5
average rating is 3 out of 5
Would make a very good Article III judge.
1/2/06, 12:35 AM
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Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
1790
rating:
9.7
average rating is 3 out of 5
average rating is 3 out of 5
Very fair, very competent. A pleasure to practice before.
1/2/06, 5:16 AM
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