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THE ROBING ROOM
where judges are judged
Hon. James E. Gritzner
District judge
S.D.Iowa
8th Circuit
Average Rating:
5.8
-
18
rating(s)
rating submitted
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Ratings:
What others have rated
Hon. James E. Gritzner
evaluator
ID
date
Temp* Sch* Indu* Comp* Punct* Ev-Cv* Ev-Cr* Flex Bail Crim Settle Trial Sent Coop Average
Criminal Defense Lawyer
11802
1/2/10
10
9
10
10
10
10
10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
9.9
Other
11402
1/1/10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
9054
1/2/09
10
8
10
10
10
10
8
10
5
5
3
7
6
5
9.4
Civil Litigation - Private
6744
1/2/08
10
9
10
10
9
10
9
10
5
5
4
6
7
4
9.6
Civil Litigation - Private
4911
1/2/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
4819
1/2/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
3983
1/1/07
8
2
2
1
7
0
1
3
0
10
0
10
8
1
3.5
Civil Litigation - Private
3889
1/2/07
8
2
1
1
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
Civil Litigation - Private
3588
1/2/07
1
2
2
1
1
1
0
7
0
0
0
0
0
0
1.3
Criminal Defense Lawyer
3128
1/2/06
7
4
3
0
7
1
0
7
0
0
0
0
0
0
4.4
Criminal Defense Lawyer
2813
1/2/06
8
6
5
0
7
0
7
8
0
0
0
8
6
2
6.6
Civil Litigation - Private
2600
1/1/06
8
5
5
0
6
2
0
5
0
0
7
0
0
0
5.2
Civil Litigation - Private
2519
1/2/06
7
3
3
2
5
2
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
3.4
Civil Litigation - Private
2544
1/2/06
8
3
4
0
5
2
3
6
0
0
0
0
0
0
4.2
Criminal Defense Lawyer
2389
1/2/06
10
10
10
10
10
9
10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
9.9
Civil Litigation - Private
2407
1/2/06
8
6
5
0
7
2
2
3
0
0
5
0
0
0
5
Civil Litigation - Private
2140
1/1/06
9
5
5
5
7
1
0
7
0
0
4
0
0
0
5.3
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
11802
1/2/10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Other
11402
1/1/10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
9054
1/2/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
6744
1/2/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
4911
1/2/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
4819
1/2/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
3983
1/1/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
3889
1/2/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
3588
1/2/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
3128
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
2813
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
2600
1/1/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
2519
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
2544
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
2389
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
2407
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
2140
1/1/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
category average
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Non-lawyer Rating
(if applicable)
evaluator
ID
date
Rating
Other
22233
1/2/14
1
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. James E. Gritzner
Other
comment #:
22233
rating:
0
1/2/14, 5:51 AM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
11802
rating:
9.9
Great judge and a greater person. Very rare to find someone who sits on the federal bench who maintains his humility. He may not be Learned Hand or Antonin Scalia, but that makes him no less of an able judge who can fairly and efficiently decide cases in front of him with a great record before the circuit.
1/2/10, 2:36 AM
Other
comment #:
11402
rating:
0
More concerned about his appearance than judging the case on the merits. Makes you think he's doing you a favor and that he cares and then pulls the rug right out from under you.
1/1/10, 5:27 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
9054
rating:
9.4
Very good judge. Very fair. While the Southern District gives you different judges with different styles, the lawyers in the Southern District have a far more pleasant courtroom experience than our friends in the Northern District.
1/2/09, 9:51 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
6744
rating:
9.6
Superb judge. A hard worker and very intelligent. I am surprised at his average rating.
1/2/08, 12:36 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
4911
rating:
0
Just got reversed for taking away punitive damages and granting a new trial. Goes to show his strong bias against plaintiffs in civil cases. This judge seldom met a civil defense motion he didn't like. Not even the slightest whiff of fairness for this judge.
1/2/07, 9:58 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
4819
rating:
0
Judge Gritzner is a little on the pompous side. He has a definite bias in favor of big law firms. He seems more concerned about appearances than about doing the right thing. He does not have a strong sense of justice or fairness. He definitely leans toward large corporations and wealthy clients like those his old law firm commonly represents.
1/2/07, 10:47 AM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
3983
rating:
3.5
A super cheerleader for the Dept. of Injustice.
1/1/07, 9:28 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
3889
rating:
3
A political hack who totally lacks qualifications for the bench. Is not independent minded at all and tilts dramatically towards the business community he represented. His knowledge of the law is breathtakingly absent.
1/2/07, 6:15 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
3588
rating:
1.3
He is insecure for a good reason--he does not know the law. A prime example of Bush's affirmative action plan for old white Republicans.
1/2/07, 3:16 PM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
3128
rating:
4.4
Strong defense bias in civil cases. But at least when you and your client are getting a royal screwing he does it with a smile. Talk about an activist judge - for the Republican agenda - look no farther. His moto - 'What Would Sen. Grassley Do' - and then he rules. No need for legislative tort reform here - he does it from the bench as well as the henchman on the circuit.
1/2/06, 8:21 AM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
2813
rating:
6.6
1/2/06, 11:34 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
2600
rating:
5.2
1/1/06, 10:56 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
2519
rating:
3.4
Very pro defense in civil cases. very personable.
1/2/06, 11:38 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
2544
rating:
4.2
Good temperment, very pro defense in summary judgement. Quick to substitute his judgement on obvious fact questions and dismiss plaintiff's claims. Don't let his smile fool you
1/2/06, 8:52 PM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
2389
rating:
9.9
1/2/06, 3:51 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
2407
rating:
5
1/2/06, 4:24 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
2140
rating:
5.3
Very nice demeanor - but behind this is a very anti-plaintiff bias and I am a civil defense lawyer.
1/1/06, 12:49 PM
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