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THE ROBING ROOM
where judges are judged
Hon. Michael L. Orenstein
Magistrate judge
E.D.N.Y.
2nd Circuit
Average Rating:
6.6
-
12
rating(s)
rating submitted
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Ratings:
What others have rated
Hon. Michael L. Orenstein
evaluator
ID
date
Temp* Sch* Indu* Comp* Punct* Ev-Cv* Ev-Cr* Flex Bail Crim Settle Trial Sent Coop Average
Civil Litigation - Private
11361
1/2/10
1
5
5
1
4
2
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
3
Civil Litigation - Private
10629
1/2/10
8
9
9
9
9
8
0
7
0
0
6
0
0
0
8.7
Criminal Defense Lawyer
9698
1/2/10
1
0
0
0
10
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
Criminal Defense Lawyer
9533
1/2/09
1
6
5
6
8
3
0
2
0
0
1
0
0
0
4.8
Criminal Defense Lawyer
5818
1/2/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
4474
1/1/07
3
5
6
0
8
7
0
1
0
0
5
0
0
0
5.8
Civil Litigation - Govt.
4073
1/1/07
3
2
7
3
3
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3.2
Criminal Defense Lawyer
3990
1/2/07
10
8
8
8
7
9
6
9
7
6
8
0
0
0
8
Criminal Defense Lawyer
2285
1/2/06
10
10
10
10
10
10
0
5
0
0
5
0
0
0
10
Civil Litigation - Private
2211
1/2/06
5
6
8
0
9
9
0
9
0
0
8
0
0
0
7.4
Civil Litigation - Private
2122
1/2/06
8
10
9
9
8
9
0
6
0
0
7
0
0
0
8.8
Civil Litigation - Private
1671
1/2/06
10
5
10
10
10
10
0
8
0
0
0
0
0
0
9.2
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
11361
1/2/10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
10629
1/2/10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
9698
1/2/10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
9533
1/2/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
5818
1/2/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
4474
1/1/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Govt.
4073
1/1/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
3990
1/2/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
2285
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
2211
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
2122
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
1671
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
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. Michael L. Orenstein
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
11361
rating:
3
How did he get a 7.0 rating? He is arrogant, supercillious, pedantic and contemptous to lawyers. I have never tried a case before him since I can not imagine ever consenting to a migistrate's trial if he was booked as the star. It is all about him. I can not comment on his settling skills because he has never exhibited the least interest in trying to resolve a matter.
1/2/10, 1:57 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
10629
rating:
8.7
1/2/10, 6:43 PM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
9698
rating:
4
#9533 is right: this man is a pompous tyrant on the bench. He gives judges everywhere a bad name. He is rude and abrasive. I have never seen witnesses or lawyers treated so poorly by a judge. He was gratuitously aggressive; made no pretense of evenhandedness; and related every event in the courtroom to his ego. A real bastard.
1/2/10, 11:28 AM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
9533
rating:
4.8
This man is a pompous tyrant on the bench. He gives judges everywhere a bad name. He is rude and abrasive. I have never been treated so poorly by a judge. I think he may have been picked on when he was younger in school or in his family life and he is now using his position of power to exact revenge.
1/2/09, 8:56 AM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
5818
rating:
0
I once appeared before Mag. Judge Orenstein for a scheduling conference. I had never previously appeared before him. Without any provocation he stared me down in his chambers and stated 'When I set a date you'll be here. Even if you're in surgery I'll come and get you.' It is this type of judicial road-rage which fuels the hundreds of lawyer alternative career publications.
1/2/08, 9:00 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
4474
rating:
5.8
Arrogant, full of himself, incredibly opinionated. Makes lawyers drive or fly hours out to that God-forsaken nightmare of a courthouse in the middle of nowhere for conferences that could be handled by phone in ten minutes. Thinks he is a comedian. Generally even-handed, but he squanders this by shooting off his from-the-hip views of the merits of the case and scaring the daylights out of clients.
1/1/07, 3:58 PM
Civil Litigation - Govt.
comment #:
4073
rating:
3.2
1/1/07, 9:51 PM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
3990
rating:
8
Great guy, wonderful to appear in front of. Kind of favors the government and is a bit too conservative for a criminal defense attorney's like but is far from a government pawn. Quick to pick up an argument. Knows his cases. Very personable. Really wonderful and enjoys lawyers.
1/2/07, 11:46 AM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
2285
rating:
10
Judge Orenstein is really brilliant, he cuts through the BS, he can parse out complex issues and is great on regulatory matters. He is fair, evenhanded, likeable, friendly and cheerful demeanor to all, yet can be firm. I have tremendous respect for him. He should be appointed to a regular judgeship. Nothing but very good things to say about him, even when I lose.
1/2/06, 5:55 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
2211
rating:
7.4
He's very good, really has the cut of an Article III judge, but too opinionated and long-winded considering his limited range of responsiblities. Also had him get 'mean' out of nowhere in what seemed like an effort to intimidate both parties.
1/2/06, 5:18 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
2122
rating:
8.8
A good judge
1/2/06, 12:47 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
1671
rating:
9.2
Magistrate Judge Orenstein is among the best the EDNY has to offer. He is knowledgable with a photographic memory, is respectful of litigants and is extremely quick to get to the heart of the issue.
1/2/06, 7:41 AM
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