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THE ROBING ROOM
where judges are judged
Hon. George P. Schiavelli
District judge
C.D.Cal.
9th Circuit
Average Rating:
4
-
16
rating(s)
rating submitted
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Ratings:
What others have rated
Hon. George P. Schiavelli
evaluator
ID
date
Temp* Sch* Indu* Comp* Punct* Ev-Cv* Ev-Cr* Flex Bail Crim Settle Trial Sent Coop Average
Civil Litigation - Private
9157
1/1/09
2
2
2
4
3
3
0
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
2.7
Criminal Defense Lawyer
6715
1/2/08
2
6
2
4
7
0
1
5
0
10
0
10
10
0
3.7
Other
6394
1/2/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
6395
1/2/08
1
0
0
0
5
1
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
2.3
Civil Litigation - Private
5841
1/2/08
2
5
1
1
1
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
1.8
Criminal Defense Lawyer
5630
1/2/08
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Civil Litigation - Private
4741
1/1/07
9
10
10
9
6
7
0
7
0
0
7
0
0
0
8.5
Criminal Defense Lawyer
4364
1/2/07
2
2
1
2
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1.6
Civil Litigation - Private
3775
1/1/07
0
3
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
Civil Litigation - Private
3598
1/2/07
10
10
10
10
8
9
9
10
0
10
10
0
0
0
9.4
Criminal Defense Lawyer
3452
1/1/07
10
10
10
10
9
10
0
10
0
0
0
0
0
0
9.8
Civil Litigation - Private
2664
1/1/06
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1.3
Criminal Defense Lawyer
2578
1/1/06
1
2
2
3
6
1
1
5
0
1
0
1
0
0
2.3
Civil Litigation - Private
2491
1/2/06
5
2
0
2
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2.5
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
Civil Litigation - Private
9157
1/1/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
6715
1/2/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Other
6394
1/2/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
6395
1/2/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
5841
1/2/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
5630
1/2/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
4741
1/1/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
4364
1/2/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
3775
1/1/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
3598
1/2/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
3452
1/1/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
2664
1/1/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
2578
1/1/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
2491
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
category average
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Non-lawyer Rating
(if applicable)
evaluator
ID
date
Rating
Litigant
5987
1/2/08
7
Other
3242
1/2/06
2
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 P. Schiavelli
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
9157
rating:
2.7
1/1/09, 6:30 PM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
6715
rating:
3.7
This judge is very skillful at deceptively creating an impression of being fair and pleasant, when, in fact, he is extremely pro-civil-defendant and pro-government. He is quite bright, and attentive to detail. Unfortunately, he uses his intelligence selectively to help the side he wants to win. He is very quick to sanction attorneys without notice or good cause, and has been recently been reversed for this conduct. He will refuse to enter a judgement on a jury verdict in favor of a plaintiff he does not like. In one case, only after two years and a writ of mandate from the Ninth Circuit did he issue the judgment. He then denied the prevailing party even one dollar of attorney's fees under statute. This too was reversed.
1/2/08, 8:49 PM
Other
comment #:
6394
rating:
0
Lesson learned the hard way: don't get sick, especially hospitalized, right before the trail date. Though he was provided with all requested updates, he not only dismissed the doctors' sworn statements, but the trial as well - not even granting the shortest continuance to find alternate counsel for plantiff. This court is masterful at justifying seemingly heartless rulings with clever manipulations or omissions of the facts. Big business wins again. Yet, when he was injured, he sued for 21 million dollars and reportedly took time for recovery. The California courts need to provide for relief for trial attorneys, as they do already for judges, who become ill and cannot proceed. They should not be forced to trial against a doctor's explicit orders.
1/2/08, 6:05 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
6395
rating:
2.3
This judge initially seemed like a nice man who would deal a fair hand based on the facts and give everyone their day in court, but that perception soon changed. It seemed there were two distinct standards for the opposing attorneys. It's called being 'hometowned.' Caution!
1/2/08, 6:22 PM
Litigant
comment #:
5987
rating:
6.4
Having read many of the comments listed on this site following my experience before Judge Schiavelli, I am shocked to see so many negative comments. I will admit that I was hoping for a better outcome than the one he gave my case but I will be the first to say that both the consideration shown by this judge to defend my position against the prosecutor (who didn't seem to have his heart in the case) as well as to consider the concerns of my family, friends and girlfriend (and her family) that were all present in the courtroom, was truly astounding. I hope to never see him again in court but would definitely give high marks to this man for his humanity. Don't know anything about his biases or other negative factors noted by others on this page and don't care! We all know that the first victim of any court case is the TRUTH. Anybody having problems with this man should consider whom they are defending. I also have to say that he did his best to defend my position as well as retain honor for himself and the court. He may not receive a Christmas card this year but I certainly won't condemn him in any way!
1/2/08, 4:21 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
5841
rating:
1.8
I have been in front of hundreds of federal judges and I can say, without fear of being accused of exaggerating, that George P. Schiavelli is the worst judge I have ever had the misfortune to encounter. His bias against civil plaintiffs is truly shocking. He treats plaintiffs with contempt. I have seen him roll his eyes and make faces in response to a plaintiff's testimony in front of a jury. I believe him to be incapable of being fair. He is contemptible. Furthermore, he is lazy. His 'opinions' do not get published because they are generally less than a paragraph long. I cannot say enough bad things about him. The only good news is that when you appeal his bad decisions, you will probably win.
1/2/08, 1:21 AM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
5630
rating:
1
This guy is deceptive. His demeanor is excellent until he hears something he doesn't like, and then he becomes very nasty. He is pro-government and anti-civil rights. He falsely creates an aura of congeniality but his decisions are outcome-driven. Not a fair judge.
1/2/08, 5:44 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
4741
rating:
8.5
He is a brilliant jurist with a wonderful demeanor, including a well-developed sense of humor. I enjoy appearances before him, as the well-prepared lawyer with good facts and well-reasoned arguments usually will prevail.
1/1/07, 11:05 PM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
4364
rating:
1.6
Awful judge. In police civil rights cases he can be counted on to side with police defendants. He issues unreasoned and legally unsupportable rulings. For a man who graduated at the top of his law school class at UCLA he is a terrible disappointment.
1/2/07, 1:36 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
3775
rating:
3
Waited months to get ruling on motions, only to receive a minute order with perfunctory treatment of the issues and halfhearted legal analysis.
1/1/07, 2:26 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
3598
rating:
9.4
One of the smartest judges on the bench today. he is hard working and interested in all of his cases. Many appearances before him and he is tough but flexible when necessary
1/2/07, 9:23 PM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
3452
rating:
9.8
Very smart. Top student in his law school class at UCLA. While rather conservative, tries his best to be fair to civil litigants. I have no knowledge of his criminal docket.
1/1/07, 11:04 PM
Other
comment #:
3242
rating:
0
Poster boy for need of term limits on federal bench. Boldly biased toward big business defendents. Petty.
1/2/06, 11:09 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
2664
rating:
1.3
1/1/06, 10:07 PM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
2578
rating:
2.3
Resigned from LA Superior Court saying he had to earn serious money to put kids through college. Widespread assumption was that he was forced to resign. Anti-criminal defense. Anti-consumer. In love with big business and big bucks. Spent time off bench as private judge, earning the 'serious' money. When nominated for Federal Court, said he'd quit Superior Court to 'care for' an ailing relative. Loves to sanction without notice. Total scum.
1/1/06, 10:48 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
2491
rating:
2.5
A blind bias against plaintiffs, especially those that are disabled. Legal scholarship is totally lacking. A guaranteed appeal if he is your judge.
1/2/06, 12:17 PM
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