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THE ROBING ROOM
where judges are judged
Hon. John A. Houston
District judge
S.D.Cal.
9th Circuit
Average Rating:
7.2
-
8
rating(s)
rating submitted
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Ratings:
What others have rated
Hon. John A. Houston
evaluator
ID
date
Temp* Sch* Indu* Comp* Punct* Ev-Cv* Ev-Cr* Flex Bail Crim Settle Trial Sent Coop Average
Civil Litigation - Private
19185
1/1/12
0
1
1
1
2
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1.2
Other
9569
1/2/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Prosecutor
9364
1/2/09
10
0
10
0
0
0
5
10
0
5
0
5
5
3
8.3
Civil Litigation - Private
6091
1/2/08
10
9
8
0
0
9
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
9
Criminal Defense Lawyer
5613
1/2/08
10
6
7
7
10
0
10
10
8
7
0
5
3
0
8.3
Civil Litigation - Private
5207
1/1/07
10
10
10
10
9
10
0
10
0
0
0
0
0
0
9.8
Criminal Defense Lawyer
1256
1/2/06
10
8
6
0
5
0
5
8
0
7
0
6
3
0
6.8
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
19185
1/1/12
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Other
9569
1/2/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Prosecutor
9364
1/2/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
6091
1/2/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
5613
1/2/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
5207
1/1/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
1256
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
category average
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Non-lawyer Rating
(if applicable)
evaluator
ID
date
Rating
Other
32661
1/2/19
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. John A. Houston
Other
comment #:
32661
rating:
0
He is a fair Judge who takes personal circumstances in to account. He helps the community by mentoring young men. He is very knowledgeable of the Judicial system.
1/2/19, 10:27 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
19185
rating:
1.2
Does not know the FRCP or FRE. Has no business being on the Bench.
1/1/12, 9:09 PM
Other
comment #:
9569
rating:
0
Willing to listen to all parties and attempts to be even handed during sentencing. Will depart from guidelines when presented with strong arguments. At sentencing, appears to weigh the charges while still taking into account a defendants background to make a judgement. Not a precedent setter in terms of sentencing but a person of intelligence with a conscience and a sense of fairness.
1/2/09, 2:57 AM
Prosecutor
comment #:
9364
rating:
8.3
I would second the opinion of the criminal defense lawyer below. Judge Houston does have a strong sense of justice, and will depart significantly from the sentencing guidelines in certain cases. I don't always agree with his rulings, but I respect them immensely. A trial in his courtroom was a real pleasure -- he has a sense of humor, is friendly, and is respectful to the parties.
1/2/09, 2:50 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
6091
rating:
9
Excellent judge. Very thoughtful. I had a tiny case in front of him once that probably shouldn't even have been in federal court. It was a time-waster that should have settled but the other side was being stubborn. When it appeared that the case might go to trial, Judge Huston said: 'Gentlemen, I look forward to seeing you at trial.' He seemed to mean it. I can't imagine him giving the appearance of being angry or unfair. Works very hard, listens to every point, and lets lawyers talk when other judges would cut them off. Great guy.
1/2/08, 11:42 PM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
5613
rating:
8.3
Judge Houston is great. He has a strong sense of justice and wants to the right thing in a given situation. He doesn't always get it right but he does try and it is a pleasure to be in his courtroom. He is a fair sentencing judge and will give a fair trial.
1/2/08, 3:20 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
5207
rating:
9.8
I have to say that I liked my experience with Judge Huston. He was very well-prepared, cut right to the main issues and gave each party time to explain their position, but not reiterate their papers. My only criticism is not really even a criticism, but in my case, he had an opportunity -- since it was fully briefed -- to rule in the alternative on a personal jurisdictional issue, instead of limiting his ruling to subject matter jurisdiction. The narrow ruling resulted in the same issue being raised again in the state court, although I completely understand the concept of a ruling on the most narrow ground rather than more expansive, and the idea that if there is no subject matter jurisdiction, a ruling on another ground is moot. A good judge.
1/1/07, 5:21 PM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
1256
rating:
6.8
1/2/06, 12:09 PM
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