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THE ROBING ROOM
where judges are judged
Hon. George H. King
District judge
C.D.Cal.
9th Circuit
Average Rating:
5.9
-
17
rating(s)
rating submitted
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Ratings:
What others have rated
Hon. George H. King
evaluator
ID
date
Temp* Sch* Indu* Comp* Punct* Ev-Cv* Ev-Cr* Flex Bail Crim Settle Trial Sent Coop Average
Civil Litigation - Private
20766
1/2/13
2
5
4
4
3
5
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
3.8
Civil Litigation - Private
19849
1/2/13
9
10
10
10
9
10
0
8
0
0
9
0
0
0
9.7
Criminal Defense Lawyer
18738
1/1/12
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Criminal Defense Lawyer
18782
1/2/12
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
4
10
10
6
10
5
5
1
Criminal Defense Lawyer
13834
1/2/12
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Criminal Defense Lawyer
11836
1/2/10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
10140
1/1/10
3
3
6
4
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3.6
Civil Litigation - Private
8870
1/2/09
10
10
10
0
10
10
0
0
0
0
8
0
0
0
10
Court Staff
8316
1/2/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
6300
1/1/08
10
10
5
5
2
10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
7
Civil Litigation - Private
6181
1/2/08
5
7
7
7
0
10
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
7.2
Civil Litigation - Private
4629
1/2/07
8
6
1
3
0
8
0
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
5.2
Civil Litigation - Private
4586
1/2/07
10
10
10
0
10
10
0
10
0
0
0
0
0
0
10
Criminal Defense Lawyer
4496
1/1/07
9
9
9
9
10
0
1
7
0
8
0
0
8
0
7.8
Criminal Defense Lawyer
4044
1/1/07
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
0
0
10
0
0
0
10
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
20766
1/2/13
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
19849
1/2/13
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
18738
1/1/12
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
18782
1/2/12
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
13834
1/2/12
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
11836
1/2/10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
10140
1/1/10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
8870
1/2/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Court Staff
8316
1/2/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
6300
1/1/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
6181
1/2/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
4629
1/2/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
4586
1/2/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
4496
1/1/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
4044
1/1/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
category average
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Non-lawyer Rating
(if applicable)
evaluator
ID
date
Rating
Litigant
9945
1/2/10
4
Other
1935
1/3/06
10
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. George H. King

Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
20766
rating:
3.8
When we were first assigned to Judge King, I was pleased that we'd been assigned to a judge with such high ratings. Unfortunately our experience did not match those recommendations. Judge King's primary problem, insofar as we were concerned, is that he appears to believe in pushbutton justice. Parties are expected to do discovery essentially on their own and without intervention, jointly present MSJ's per his byzantine rules, and settle the case on their own while summary judgments are pending. Unfortunately, life doesn't work so easily. You actually need a judge at times to make firm decisions, particularly where the opposition stretches the rules of procedure and good behavior. Throughout the proceeding I simply got the unavoidable feeling that our mere existence as a case on his docket offended Judge King. His rulings, when given, were announced in childlike petulant rants. If Judge King no longer wishes to be a district judge then he should retire. But in the meantime, make rulings and move cases -- that's what judges are there to do.
1/2/13, 8:58 PM

Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
19849
rating:
9.7
This guy is smart and he knows it. It is best that the lawyer know that as well. In viewing some of these posts it looks like some lawyers were not prepared or looking to blame someone else. in this case they found the judge. King is not easy, but he is fair.
1/2/13, 6:12 PM

Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
18738
rating:
1
Always favors the government, who was his only ever employer. Wants dearly to go to the Ninth Circuit, but that never will happen, fortunately.
1/1/12, 9:13 AM

Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
18782
rating:
1
Now the chief judge, wants very, very badly to go to the Ninth Circuit, where he actually would do less damage because he would have to get two other judges to agree with his pro-government, anti-civil rights leanings. A rule fetishist.
1/2/12, 12:09 PM

Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
13834
rating:
1
Not bad for Central California, but in the end a company guy who only ever worked for the government as an AUSA and judicial officer. His only goal seems to be to go to the Ninth Circuit that, fortunately, never will happen.
1/2/12, 2:15 AM

Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
11836
rating:
0
THIS JUDGE IS A JOKE. HE SENTENCED MY CLIENT, NO CRIMINAL HISTORY, TO 1 YR FED PRISON FOR MAIL FRAUD (26K VICTIM IS NETSTAMPS).
1/2/10, 1:13 PM

Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
10140
rating:
3.6
Seems like an industrious guy, but he's certainly not as bright as he thinks he is. Jumped to a conclusion based on some preconceived ideas he had, respecting what seemed to be a new area of the law for him. Really didn't attempt to follow, or even deal with the authorities cited. A bit rude. There's worse out there certainly, but his reviews are skewed way too high here.
1/1/10, 8:23 PM

Litigant
comment #:
9945
rating:
0
Judge King does not particularly care for pro se litigants. That is apparent based on some of his decisions, in which the evidence presented in the case was undeniable. Yet, he still ruled in favor of the Defendants. He'll probably get reversed in this case.
1/2/10, 4:33 AM

Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
8870
rating:
10
Excellent judge, but be prepared and follow the local rules. Get those courtesy copies into his box on time.
1/2/09, 3:03 AM

Court Staff
comment #:
8316
rating:
0
Judge King is a great federal judge to have worked for. His requirements of fairness and hard work on the part of the attorneys clearly demonstrate his belief in upholding our system of justice -- unique in the world -- and his gratitude for our great country. I wish some of the other federal judges would find his humanity.
1/2/09, 2:53 AM

Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
6300
rating:
7
Judge King was well-prepared and issued very detailed and well-reasoned decisions when he did render a ruling. At times he sat on pretrial motions for agonizing periods of time, ultimately letting the case stagnate for years.
1/1/08, 10:22 PM

Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
6181
rating:
7.2
Bright judge who gets the issues pretty quickly and is scrupulously unbiased. My only beef is that he's too evenhanded - our case was very contentious as a result of one side's attempt to prevail or at least reduce their exposure with hardball tactics. He did not let them get away with it, but by the same token he didn't do anything to punish them, so it went on far too long.
1/2/08, 4:08 PM

Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
4629
rating:
5.2
1/2/07, 1:31 PM

Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
4586
rating:
10
He was a great trial judge for a business (contract) case -- he understood the issues (international sale of diamonds, fraud, tax fraud, corporate bookkeeping); treated all parties, witnesses and counsel with respect; was intelligent and interested; did his own research when necessary. He was always prepared and expected counsel to be prepared also.
1/2/07, 10:40 AM

Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
4496
rating:
7.8
Very good demeanor, but obvious pro-prosecution bias. Harsher than average sentencer.
1/1/07, 11:15 PM

Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
4044
rating:
10
A great judge. Well informed, well mannered, well prepared and industrious. We need more George Kings on the bench in LA.
1/1/07, 4:41 PM
