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THE ROBING ROOM
where judges are judged
Hon. Lee H. Rosenthal
District judge
S.D.Tex.
5th Circuit
Average Rating:
9.1
-
20
rating(s)
rating submitted
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Ratings:
What others have rated
Hon. Lee H. Rosenthal
evaluator
ID
date
Temp* Sch* Indu* Comp* Punct* Ev-Cv* Ev-Cr* Flex Bail Crim Settle Trial Sent Coop Average
Civil Litigation - Private
25362
1/1/18
10
10
10
10
10
10
0
10
0
0
2
0
0
0
10
Criminal Defense Lawyer
21066
1/2/13
10
10
10
10
9
10
0
7
0
0
0
0
0
0
9.8
Criminal Defense Lawyer
19298
1/1/13
10
10
0
10
10
0
10
10
5
6
0
0
8
0
10
Civil Litigation - Private
9901
1/2/10
10
10
10
10
0
10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
10
Criminal Defense Lawyer
9216
1/2/09
9
10
10
10
10
0
10
8
0
5
0
7
0
0
9.8
Civil Litigation - Private
8569
1/2/09
10
10
9
10
10
9
0
9
0
0
8
0
0
0
9.7
Civil Litigation - Private
7697
1/1/09
4
7
5
7
5
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5.5
Litigant
6693
1/2/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
6156
1/2/08
10
3
5
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5.3
Civil Litigation - Private
3513
1/2/07
9
10
9
10
0
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
8.6
Prosecutor
3558
1/2/07
10
10
10
10
0
0
10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
10
Civil Litigation - Private
3481
1/2/07
10
10
10
10
10
10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
10
Criminal Defense Lawyer
3418
1/1/07
10
10
10
10
10
10
0
10
0
0
0
0
0
0
10
Civil Litigation - Private
2975
1/1/06
10
10
8
10
8
10
0
6
0
0
5
0
0
0
9.3
Civil Litigation - Private
2933
1/1/06
10
10
10
10
9
8
0
6
0
0
3
0
0
0
9.5
Criminal Defense Lawyer
1803
1/2/06
9
10
10
0
10
0
10
10
0
5
0
5
4
0
9.8
Criminal Defense Lawyer
1537
1/3/06
9
7
8
10
10
8
8
9
9
5
0
5
5
5
8.6
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
25362
1/1/18
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
21066
1/2/13
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
19298
1/1/13
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
9901
1/2/10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
9216
1/2/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
8569
1/2/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
7697
1/1/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Litigant
6693
1/2/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
6156
1/2/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
3513
1/2/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Prosecutor
3558
1/2/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
3481
1/2/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
3418
1/1/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
2975
1/1/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
2933
1/1/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
1803
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
1537
1/3/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
category average
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
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Non-lawyer Rating
(if applicable)
evaluator
ID
date
Rating
Other
24041
1/2/16
3
Other
21632
1/2/14
10
Litigant
17401
1/1/12
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. Lee H. Rosenthal
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
25362
rating:
10
Judge Rosenthal is, hand down, the smartest judge in the Houston Federal Courthouse. She is thoughtful and incisive in her consideration of issues, and has the ability to cut right down to the important issues. You will not find a finer judge anywhere.
1/1/18, 10:46 PM
Other
comment #:
24041
rating:
0
she overturns 12 jury verdict basiclly the jury were idiots roy maynor vs dow chemical
1/2/16, 12:08 AM
Other
comment #:
21632
rating:
0
In response to comment #17401 below: Judge Rosenthal is one of the brightest judges in the state -- and arguably in the circuit -- and she has *zero* tolerance for b.s. cases. It makes no difference how 'well-researched' your briefs are: if a case is b.s., it's b.s., and thanks to the copious amount of research that she does prior to any hearing, she'll know it from the get-go (and often do what she did in your case: ask the defense for its MSJ even before anything's been formally written). Sorry if you're butthurt over it, but it's your own fault if you can't manage to come up with more than a scintilla of evidence to prove that you have any sort of case.
1/2/14, 8:34 AM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
21066
rating:
9.8
1/2/13, 6:12 AM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
19298
rating:
10
One of the smartest judges on the bench.... Tough to get reversed. Fair and balanced. Will look up the lw on the bench before ruling and discuss it will reviewing the law.
1/1/13, 1:00 PM
Litigant
comment #:
17401
rating:
0
Rude and dismissive of the carefully researched briefs of my attorney. Rosenthal clearly plays favorites by dismissing attorneys from our lawsuit without stating any reasons for doing so other than ruling they had 'qualified immunity.' Then, she refused our motion for remand to the state court and basically told my attorney she would grant a motion to dismiss our case before its was presented. When p[resented with several precedent decisions from other judges in the SDTX she said the facts were different without stating why they were different.We will be requesting a mandamus from the 5th Circuit.
1/1/12, 11:52 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
9901
rating:
10
Brilliant and fair judge. Perhaps the only federal judge in Texas that an out of state lawyer would feel comfortable trying a case before (but I'd still have local counsel play a significant role)!
1/2/10, 3:31 AM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
9216
rating:
9.8
Judge Rosenthal is a brilliant and fair judge. She has complete control of her courtroom, and manages it well. Her opinions are prompt, fair, and well-reasoned.
1/2/09, 2:16 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
8569
rating:
9.7
Excellent in every respect. An honor to practice before her.
1/2/09, 7:50 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
7697
rating:
5.5
Judge Rosenthal suffers from being predisposed to making a decision, shooting from the hip. She has the ability but perhaps has been on the bench too long. She twists her opinions in a manner not befitting the respect that her position holds.
1/1/09, 5:33 AM
Litigant
comment #:
6693
rating:
0
When it comes to the Rules, she doesn't just bend, she breaks. She is a first-class hypocrite in this regard.
1/2/08, 6:45 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
6156
rating:
5.3
Judge Rosenthal definitely is not a friend to civil rights plaintiffs. She generally gets high ratings for scholarship, and I'm sure she has the intellect. However, she is very outcome-oriented, and she bends the law to produce the desired result.
1/2/08, 2:27 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
3513
rating:
8.6
Clearly, one of the smartest judges around. Generally fair, but tends to be conservative, and as a result tends to slightly favor corporations over individuals in my opinion. But, clearly, one of better judges.
1/2/07, 2:52 AM
Prosecutor
comment #:
3558
rating:
10
By far, the best judge in the entire SDTX. She has the best demeanor. She really researchs the legal issues before her, and her rulings withstand appellate scrutiny more so than the other judges in the district.
1/2/07, 1:23 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
3481
rating:
10
A true legal scholar of the highest caliber. Judge Rosenthal is a pleasure to appear before and a testament to our profession. Fair, honorable, committed, and industrious.
1/2/07, 4:06 AM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
3418
rating:
10
Absolutely one of the best. A true scholar, wonderful demeanor, even-handed, extremely efficient.
1/1/07, 4:07 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
2975
rating:
9.3
A brilliant mind and one of the fairest judges around. Runs a tight courtroom.
1/1/06, 4:08 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
2933
rating:
9.5
Extraordinarily smart and hardworking. Revels in the intellectual side of the law. If you have a complex civil case, this is the court to get!
1/1/06, 10:40 PM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
1803
rating:
9.8
One of the best. Practice in her court is a pleasure . . . most of the time. Occasionally (rarely) you'll catch her on a bad day, and she'll be a little bit less than perfectly pleasant.
1/2/06, 1:00 PM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
1537
rating:
8.6
Very even-handed for Houston.
1/3/06, 12:44 AM
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