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THE ROBING ROOM
where judges are judged
Hon. Sidney H. Stein
District judge
S.D.N.Y.
2nd Circuit
Average Rating:
5.9
-
22
rating(s)
rating submitted
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Ratings:
What others have rated
Hon. Sidney H. Stein
evaluator
ID
date
Temp* Sch* Indu* Comp* Punct* Ev-Cv* Ev-Cr* Flex Bail Crim Settle Trial Sent Coop Average
Criminal Defense Lawyer
32317
1/2/19
3
8
9
9
7
0
2
7
8
9
0
0
7
0
6.3
Criminal Defense Lawyer
31528
1/2/19
4
2
6
5
8
0
4
7
0
7
0
0
7
0
4.8
Civil Litigation - Private
28909
1/2/18
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
0
0
8
0
0
0
10
Other
26341
1/2/18
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
23149
1/1/15
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
2
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
Civil Litigation - Govt.
22056
1/2/14
5
3
2
2
1
2
3
5
0
5
1
0
0
0
2.6
Civil Litigation - Private
18901
1/3/12
5
4
5
5
9
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
Civil Litigation - Private
13310
1/2/11
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
Civil Litigation - Private
11739
1/2/10
9
9
10
9
10
10
0
5
0
0
6
0
0
0
9.5
Court Staff
10513
1/2/10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
9954
1/2/10
9
8
8
0
8
9
0
8
0
0
0
0
0
0
8.4
Civil Litigation - Private
9797
1/2/10
8
1
1
1
3
9
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3.8
Civil Litigation - Private
9536
1/2/09
9
8
10
10
10
10
0
10
0
0
0
0
0
0
9.5
Civil Litigation - Private
8729
1/2/09
10
10
10
10
8
9
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
9.5
Civil Litigation - Private
6035
1/2/08
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
Civil Litigation - Private
5950
1/2/08
3
4
5
4
8
1
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
4.2
Civil Litigation - Private
5616
1/2/08
10
9
9
9
10
9
0
8
0
0
0
0
0
0
9.3
Court Staff
5154
1/1/07
10
9
9
10
9
0
10
10
5
5
7
5
5
5
9.5
Criminal Defense Lawyer
3560
1/2/07
7
8
8
0
10
0
8
5
0
5
0
7
4
0
8.2
Civil Litigation - Private
3058
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
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
32317
1/2/19
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
31528
1/2/19
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
28909
1/2/18
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Other
26341
1/2/18
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
23149
1/1/15
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Govt.
22056
1/2/14
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
18901
1/3/12
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
13310
1/2/11
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
11739
1/2/10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Court Staff
10513
1/2/10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
9954
1/2/10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
9797
1/2/10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
9536
1/2/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
8729
1/2/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
6035
1/2/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
5950
1/2/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
5616
1/2/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Court Staff
5154
1/1/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
3560
1/2/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
3058
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
category average
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Non-lawyer Rating
(if applicable)
evaluator
ID
date
Rating
Other
4687
1/3/07
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. Sidney H. Stein
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
32317
rating:
6.3
Very pompous. Interrupts you just to hear himself ask questions he knows the answers to. Talks down to counsel for the government and defense, alike. Difficult to sway with argument. Comes out predestined. Avoid at all costs IMHO.
1/2/19, 9:20 AM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
31528
rating:
4.8
He is cynical and sarcastic and does not, in my opinion, have much respect for the defense function. Repeatedly interrupts counsel for no good reason; asks questions in a cross-examination style, not to gather information in good faith, but merely to make his own point; thinks he's much brighter than he really his; brings his biases onto the bench
1/2/19, 2:59 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
28909
rating:
10
One of the most conscientious and even-handed judges I have ever encountered. Judge Stein takes tremendous care to understand a party's arguments and gets the law right.
1/2/18, 4:52 AM
Other
comment #:
26341
rating:
0
Judge stein sentenced my son today and although he gave him a light sentencing there was one thing I really didn’t appreciate. He told my son he feel he could get a better job then to be an usher at a movie theater. My son got a promotion and became the head usher, but my question is what better job will he get going to prison and being a black male coming from prison what better job will he get? I felt he could’ve gave him supervised release for the three year instead of one year in prison. Just my thoughts
1/2/18, 5:53 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
23149
rating:
1
Thoroughly awful. Totally over his head in a complex case. Does not know what to do, so lets meaningful motions sit on his docket for many months. Then, like a schoolchild trying to disguise failure to complete the homework, he will scheme to have the assignment withdrawn, e.g. 'motion denied without prejudice to refile later', etc. Disrespects attorneys from small firms with obvious and repeated slights and ad hominem attacks. The man is a discredit to the sdny specifically and the entire federal bench. He is on senior status and should just stay at home so the seat can be occupied a person who is competent and not poisoned by petty biases.
1/1/15, 8:47 PM
Civil Litigation - Govt.
comment #:
22056
rating:
2.6
This judge is mediocre. He is slow to rule and result oriented. He thinks he is very clever. However he is of average intelligence for a district judge. He is a nice fellow.
1/2/14, 3:24 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
18901
rating:
5
I found it hard to explain how he came to his rulings. It was not a comfortable experience being before him though he appeared to work hard at getting it right he seemed to disregard the evidence he did not want to hear that would have required a contrary result.
1/3/12, 2:21 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
13310
rating:
1
This judge is a misery with an even demeanor. Don't be fooled.He will not allow a litigant to have their case decided on the merits once he has decided that an attorney is not important enough to be in his courtroom. He is inflexible and without an army of people in your office to meet his deadlines you will not survive because he will destroy your case with dates that make no sense. Beware little guys--he does not want you in his courtroom no mater the merits of your case. He does not care that behind it all there is an actual client with a good case. He has forgotten his purpose and has no soul.
1/2/11, 12:11 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
11739
rating:
9.5
Overall he was fair and unbiased. However, he is quick to dismiss or strike significant motions for non-substantive procedural (in one case he misapplied a local rule to do so) reasons without reviewing the underlying merits of the motion.
1/2/10, 3:29 AM
Court Staff
comment #:
10513
rating:
0
Let him think you are a progressive and write your own opinion. Look how he repaid Hillary Clinton for being appointed to the position by her husband. Hillarys' campaign manager Nemazee received a sentence 30% lighter than federal court guidelines for over 300 million dollar fraudulent loans, mostly for Democratic fundraising.
1/2/10, 1:35 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
9954
rating:
8.4
1/2/10, 10:13 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
9797
rating:
3.8
Overall not very impressed. Has a very shallow view of the law, and workmanlike application of law to the facts, with very little insight. Good example of civil-servant justice that CJ Rehnquist once talked about -- not awful, but rather mediocre.
1/2/10, 6:01 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
9536
rating:
9.5
Appeared before him on an expedited bankruptcy appeal that amounted to a TRO. Mastered a complicated set of facts very quickly and produced a fair, meaningful opinion practically overnight. Defied expectations.
1/2/09, 5:37 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
8729
rating:
9.5
Judge Stein showed analytical keenness and precision in a federal securities case. He wrote a clean, careful opinion that led to settlement of the matter.
1/2/09, 11:14 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
6035
rating:
2
1/2/08, 3:33 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
5950
rating:
4.2
Biased and vindictive -- a nightmare when it comes to the First Amendment.
1/2/08, 2:37 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
5616
rating:
9.3
This is a judge who recognizes incompetent lawyers and frivolous arguments instantly, but allows such parties every opportunity to have their arguments carry the day. If that means giving them enough rope to hang themselves, so be it. A pleasure to appear before.
1/2/08, 11:20 PM
Court Staff
comment #:
5154
rating:
9.5
1/1/07, 10:38 AM
Other
comment #:
4687
rating:
0
He must be the most incompetent judge in the Justice System. He should be investigated for his poor decisions.
1/3/07, 2:24 AM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
3560
rating:
8.2
A very bright, conscientious hardworking guy with a mildly pro-prosecution bent who tries very hard to be fair and even-handed. He is courteous and patient and lets the lawyers try their cases.
1/2/07, 1:55 PM
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