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THE ROBING ROOM
where judges are judged
Hon. Ronald A. Guzman
District judge
N.D.Ill.
7th Circuit
Average Rating:
3.8
-
19
rating(s)
rating submitted
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Ratings:
What others have rated
Hon. Ronald A. Guzman
evaluator
ID
date
Temp* Sch* Indu* Comp* Punct* Ev-Cv* Ev-Cr* Flex Bail Crim Settle Trial Sent Coop Average
Civil Litigation - Private
22321
1/2/15
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
1
0
0
2
0
0
0
1
Criminal Defense Lawyer
18948
1/2/12
9
10
10
9
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
9.7
Criminal Defense Lawyer
18193
1/2/12
1
3
2
0
1
1
0
4
0
0
1
0
0
0
1.6
Civil Litigation - Private
17989
1/2/12
2
4
2
2
4
3
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
2.8
Civil Litigation - Private
12961
1/1/11
1
2
1
1
3
3
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
1.8
Criminal Defense Lawyer
12599
1/2/11
4
2
4
4
6
5
5
8
4
5
4
5
5
5
4.3
Civil Litigation - Private
12323
1/2/11
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Civil Litigation - Private
12176
1/2/11
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
Civil Litigation - Private
11742
1/2/10
2
2
0
2
1
3
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
Civil Litigation - Private
11748
1/2/10
8
10
10
10
8
10
0
6
0
0
0
0
0
0
9.3
Civil Litigation - Private
10644
1/2/10
9
9
9
9
0
10
0
7
0
0
10
0
0
0
9.2
Civil Litigation - Private
10141
1/1/10
1
4
2
2
1
2
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
2
Civil Litigation - Private
6769
1/2/08
3
5
4
4
6
7
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4.8
Criminal Defense Lawyer
2891
1/1/06
2
3
2
1
5
8
0
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
3.5
Criminal Defense Lawyer
2921
1/1/06
1
1
2
1
0
3
1
1
10
10
4
10
9
0
1.5
Civil Litigation - Private
2646
1/1/06
2
3
5
3
10
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4.3
Civil Litigation - Private
2241
1/2/06
1
4
5
3
1
10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
category average
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-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
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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
22321
1/2/15
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
18948
1/2/12
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
18193
1/2/12
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
17989
1/2/12
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
12961
1/1/11
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
12599
1/2/11
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
12323
1/2/11
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
12176
1/2/11
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
11742
1/2/10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
11748
1/2/10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
10644
1/2/10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
10141
1/1/10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
6769
1/2/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
2891
1/1/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
2921
1/1/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
2646
1/1/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
2241
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
category average
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Non-lawyer Rating
(if applicable)
evaluator
ID
date
Rating
Litigant
22014
1/2/14
1
Other
4833
1/2/07
9
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. Ronald A. Guzman
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
22321
rating:
1
Why isn't zero an option on these ratings? Agree with all of the other commenters below. Hates attorneys. Gives unreasonable discovery deadlines, then blasts you when they aren't met, as if they were your idea in the first place. I wish he'd find something else to do that he likes, because it's pretty obvious he doesn't like this.
1/2/15, 2:25 PM
Litigant
comment #:
22014
rating:
0
Does not listen to prose litigant. Does not follow court rule. Rush case.
1/2/14, 9:34 AM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
18948
rating:
9.7
fair minded man not easy to pull the wool over his eyes
1/2/12, 2:25 AM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
18193
rating:
1.6
This excuse for a federal district judge should find a job he likes. He's lazy and pushes off responsibility. I just had him reversed in an attorney fee case where the court of appeals stated he both abused his discretion and came to an unreasonable result. His temperament and disdain for lawyers is a disgrace to the bench. I agree with another critic: he was a terrible magistrate and now he is a worse district judge.
1/2/12, 12:40 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
17989
rating:
2.8
Completely inflexible in scheduling, will rush discovery to conclusion regardless of the complexity of the case or wishes of the parties. In my case, repeatedly appeared for oral argument on motions without ever having read the papers, and never issued a written opinion on anything. Combine that with a very disagreeable temperament and the fact that he clearly hates his job, and you have the makings of a very unpleasant experience. Should do himself and the bar a favor and find something else to do.
1/2/12, 2:23 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
12961
rating:
1.8
Judge Guzman seemingly has no grasp on how to handle a civil matter. He fails to listen to the parties. Most troubling, he is extremely lazy and will not rule on motions. He does not place the same rules on himself as he does the litigants. One has to wonder why he is on the bench given his obvious dislike for attorneys as well as doing what he is required to do as a judge.
1/1/11, 2:56 PM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
12599
rating:
4.3
He looks ornery and would crack a smile if he say a bare ads run down the hallway. He seems that he don't derive any pleasure or joy from his work. Make me feel sorry for him and those that wind up before him. He seems to ove to do anything to get rid of a case and the associated work, push it to a magistrate for settlement rather than make any effor himself, grant dismissals, summary judgments, etc. His favorite are nonsuits - less work achieved quickly. At times he shows flickers of wisdom. Certainly not the best draw, but considering the rest, one could do worse.
1/2/11, 4:53 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
12323
rating:
1
This guy is truly the pits. Just the other day I saw him incinerate a lawyer for requesting a ruling on a motion to dismiss for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction. Apparently the pro se plaintiff was trying to collaterally attack a state court foreclosure judgment. This is a 'no-brainer' motion, but apparenly, to Judge Guzman, that means that if having no brain means you get no ruling. He ordered the parties to proceed with discovery and slammed counsel for filing a 'reflexive' motion to dismiss and told counsel that his time would be better spent lobbying Congress to help get more judges and law clerks appointed so that he would not be so over-worked. What a nightmare.
1/2/11, 9:49 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
12176
rating:
1
He is a complete and utter disgrace to the bench. He laments about all the hard work he must do and how Congress does not give him enough staff or other judges to assist him. Apparently the void between his ears is incapable of recognizing that if the motions are truly as bad or frivilous as he speciously claims, then can simply rule from the bench and keep things moving. He is as lazy and short-tempered as he is useless. His saving grace is that he does not play favorites because he hates everyone the same because they all bring more work for him to do.
1/2/11, 5:35 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
11742
rating:
2
Completely unreasonable.
1/2/10, 5:23 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
11748
rating:
9.3
Judge Guzman is very fair and concerned about giving both sides a fair chance. He sees through the BS of lawyers who try to avoid complying with discovery by engaging in delay tactics. He gets right to the heart of the matter and quickly understands the issues. He genuinely seems concerned about justice, which is really what being a judge is about. We're not in court to make friends. Just be sure to stay on top of your deadlines because he doesn't like extensions.
1/2/10, 4:03 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
10644
rating:
9.2
Judge Guzman is exactly what you look for in a good judge -- he''s fair, he''s thorough, he''s smart, and he doesn''t tolerate incompetence or lack of preparation.
1/2/10, 3:25 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
10141
rating:
2
He's got to look for a job he really likes. He's almost always late, is lazy, unreasonable, procrastinates and doesn't care. He makes short-shrift of cases and looks for the easy way out--not very analytical. Has a very unlikeable and unpleasant attitude in court.
1/1/10, 8:19 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
6769
rating:
4.8
Agree with other comments. Judge Guzman is unlikeable and doesn't always seem to catch on quickly. If you hate lawyers, why be a judge?
1/2/08, 2:45 AM
Other
comment #:
4833
rating:
0
Appears fair and unbiased. Seems motivated in achieving the right result. Not afraid of taking case to trial
1/2/07, 6:33 AM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
2891
rating:
3.5
Horrible temperment, not a skillful judge.
1/1/06, 6:39 PM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
2921
rating:
1.5
Not very bright, helpful, fair or friendly. Chosen for the district court for all the bad reasons.
1/1/06, 8:29 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
2646
rating:
4.3
This man was a terrible magistrate and a worse judge. I rank him slightly above Der-Yeghiayan, becuase Der-Yeghiayan seems off on some other planet, at least Guzman will follow clear law. Guzman seems to have temperment of Coar, without the intelligence of Cour.
1/1/06, 7:20 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
2241
rating:
4
Judge Guzman is perpetually late to court and always in a grumpy mood. That said, he doesn't seem to have any noticeable bias towards either side, because he equally despises them both.
1/2/06, 4:03 AM
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