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THE ROBING ROOM
where judges are judged
Hon. Robert N. Block
Magistrate judge
C.D.Cal.
9th Circuit
Average Rating:
4.5
-
7
rating(s)
rating submitted
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Ratings:
What others have rated
Hon. Robert N. Block
evaluator
ID
date
Temp* Sch* Indu* Comp* Punct* Ev-Cv* Ev-Cr* Flex Bail Crim Settle Trial Sent Coop Average
Court Staff
21347
1/2/13
1
4
4
4
9
0
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4.3
Criminal Defense Lawyer
18456
1/2/12
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Civil Litigation - Govt.
18260
1/1/12
1
4
3
3
3
1
0
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
2.5
Civil Litigation - Private
13545
1/2/12
1
3
3
0
0
2
0
1
0
0
10
0
0
0
2.3
Civil Litigation - Private
13362
1/1/12
1
4
2
2
8
2
0
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
3.2
Criminal Defense Lawyer
5600
1/2/08
10
10
10
10
9
9
9
10
0
0
0
0
0
0
9.6
Civil Litigation - Private
4575
1/2/07
6
9
10
8
10
8
0
10
0
0
10
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
Court Staff
21347
1/2/13
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
18456
1/2/12
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Govt.
18260
1/1/12
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
13545
1/2/12
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
13362
1/1/12
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
5600
1/2/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
4575
1/2/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
category average
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-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
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. Robert N. Block
Court Staff
comment #:
21347
rating:
4.3
This judge is overrated a bit in terms of his intellect and skills, but competent. He is also, however, neither fair nor respectful -- he is a vicious human being towards litigants, attorneys, and court staff, and reportedly toward many of his own law clerks. I saw him talk to an elderly attorney, who was perfectly respectful and trying to do his job, like the poor man was a slave; I've been around courts for over twenty years and have never seen someone who takes such visible glee in humiliating people over whom he has power. It was a serious error in judgment to give this man judicial power. He appears to be biased in favor of the prosecution, and the government generally. He is decent at habeas corpus, but cursory and lazy in social security disability cases.
1/2/13, 1:37 PM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
18456
rating:
1
A lazy, arrogant, rich guy who has nothing to do during the day while his spouse practices medicine and his brother sells wholesale chocolates, so he comes to court and acts officiously. A benchwarmer.
1/2/12, 11:51 AM
Civil Litigation - Govt.
comment #:
18260
rating:
2.5
Dragged case on for almost 10 years because he wouldn't allow clear motion that would bar plaintiff from proceeding (clear lapse of statute of limitations) - had a bias toward plaintiff and wanted government to settle employment discrimination case - threatened sanctions if argument ever brought up in papers. Risked it and had it as the last argument in summary judgment papers. Guess who didn't want to be overruled AGAIN by the Second Circuit and granted summary judgment? 10 years for a simple discrimination case. This judge is horrible.
1/1/12, 9:12 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
13545
rating:
2.3
I agree with the january 2012 post. While this judge may know his material and prepare for court, I have seen him on several occasions scream at attorneys that they did/said something wrong and threaten sanctions - when in fact, it was not true. The poor attorney is then left having to apologize to this man when it is in fact he who should be apologizing to the attorney. Very sad comment on our judiciary.
1/2/12, 7:57 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
13362
rating:
3.2
Candidly, the most overly emotional judge who resorts to out and out screaming I have ever had the pleasure to appear before. Even worse is his unjustified affinity to accuse counsel of lying (yes, while screaming) and making baseless threats of Rule 11 violations. How did this guy get to be a judge anyway?
1/1/12, 8:41 PM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
5600
rating:
9.6
The smartest judge that I have ever appeared before. He shows up knowing your case as well as or better than you do. He listens and he thinks - what more can you ask for?
1/2/08, 10:54 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
4575
rating:
8.5
Extremely fair, no nonsense, will give it to you straight in settlement discussions. Does his job, follows up to keep things moving. Will hold government defense counsel's feet to the fire when appropriate.
1/2/07, 8:54 AM
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