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THE ROBING ROOM
where judges are judged
Hon. Michael F. Urbanski
District judge
W.D.Va.
4th Circuit
Average Rating:
8.5
-
7
rating(s)
rating submitted
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Ratings:
What others have rated
Hon. Michael F. Urbanski
evaluator
ID
date
Temp* Sch* Indu* Comp* Punct* Ev-Cv* Ev-Cr* Flex Bail Crim Settle Trial Sent Coop Average
Civil Litigation - Private
23490
1/2/16
10
10
10
10
9
10
0
9
0
0
0
0
0
0
9.8
Criminal Defense Lawyer
23423
1/2/16
9
10
10
10
4
0
10
10
2
5
0
5
3
3
8.8
Prosecutor
23103
1/1/15
1
5
0
2
5
0
2
9
3
3
0
1
2
6
3
Civil Litigation - Private
18115
1/1/12
10
10
10
10
10
9
0
10
0
0
0
0
0
0
9.8
Civil Litigation - Private
13304
1/2/11
10
8
10
10
10
10
0
10
4
5
10
0
0
0
9.7
Civil Litigation - Private
3717
1/2/07
10
0
10
9
10
10
0
0
0
0
10
0
0
0
9.8
Civil Litigation - Private
1784
1/2/06
9
7
8
9
9
9
0
8
0
0
8
0
0
0
8.5
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
23490
1/2/16
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
23423
1/2/16
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Prosecutor
23103
1/1/15
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
18115
1/1/12
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
13304
1/2/11
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
3717
1/2/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
1784
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 F. Urbanski
comment #:
32918
rating:
1/30/22, 9:37 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
23490
rating:
9.8
Judge Urbanski is a credit to the federal bench. He employs a scholarly approach to the civil cases on his docket, often performing his own research if he believes the litigants have missed something. His opinions are thoroughly researched, meticulously organized and beautifully written. He is a gentleman off the bench. In fact, he has a tradition of coming down to shake hands and converse with lawyers at the conclusion of proceedings. I have also witnessed him handle criminal proceedings while waiting for my case to be called. His approach is the same -- thoughtful and fair but firm. He will sit on the Court of Appeals one day.
1/2/16, 6:44 AM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
23423
rating:
8.8
Judge Urbanski is a credit to the federal bench. He comes to every issue prepared. He is a tireless worker - when he is away from his chambers in Roanoke handling cases in the outposts of W.D. Va., I have seen him going over the day's issues with his clerks in the hotel lobby at 5:30 a.m. He gives each side the opportunity for a full and fair hearing, but unlike so many judges, he gives full weight to the burdens the government is required to carry in criminal cases. He does not pre-judge evidence, and has been known to be persuaded to change his mind in oral arguments on motions. The only downside of this is that, in giving his full consideration to issues, proceedings sometimes drag out quite a bit longer than they would with other judges. He has no patience for abusive prosecutions, so AUSAs in front of Judge Urbanski know they have to come prepared, because he isn't a rubber stamp - the laws and the rules of evidence and procedure mean something to him. I personally wrote to Senator Kaine to commend him for recommending Judge Urbanski for appointment, and to urge him to recommend him again when a seat comes open on the 4th Circuit. W.D. Va. will miss him, but he is well-suited for the appellate bench.
1/2/16, 10:48 AM
Prosecutor
comment #:
23103
rating:
3
I do not know what he is like in civil cases, but he is the definition of an activist judge in criminal ones. He is one of the most pro-defendant federal judges in the country, and is well known to look hard for reasons to let even guilty defendants go free. He openly says he wants to do what he sees as justice, and his notion of Justice often conflicts with the precedent before him. Those are the times he works the hardest, to try to find some legitimate way around the law he doesn't like. And if he cannot find one he just rules his way anyway and dares the government to appeal. For sentencings he typically starts at half of the guidelines and works down from there. Although his bias is clearly pro-defendant, his judicial temperament is pretty evenly awful to both sides. It's not uncommon for him to yell at attorneys until he is red in the face. He is also known to tell them to shut up and sit down when they try to speak. He paces around during hearings and trials and frequently interrupts the attorneys and starts questioning witnessss himself. It is no secret that those that helped him get on the bench now regret it.
1/1/15, 7:11 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
18115
rating:
9.8
One of the best judges I've ever practiced in front of. You won't find a judge more knowledgeable on the issues and facts of a case. He has a firm but fair hand on court matters, always with an eye towards a full and fair hearing of issues. You will rarely find a jurist of his intelligence and work ethic. I appreciate his habit of shaking hands of the parties who appear before him. Judge Urbanski merits Circuit promotion at the next available offering.
1/1/12, 10:35 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
13304
rating:
9.7
Great judge. Hard working, fair, pays attention to the issues. I practiced before him while he was a magistrate and am excited to see that he received a well-deserved promotion. Sometimes things work out like they're supposed to.
1/2/11, 8:15 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
3717
rating:
9.8
Judge Urbanski handled the litigators extremely well, I don't think if we'd had another judge that a settlement would have been reached. He was enthusiastic, fair, extremely plesant to deal with.
1/2/07, 9:52 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
1784
rating:
8.5
excellent judge.
1/2/06, 12:10 AM
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