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THE ROBING ROOM
where judges are judged
Hon. Peter C. Dorsey
District judge
D.Conn.
2nd Circuit
Average Rating:
8.6
-
9
rating(s)
rating submitted
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Ratings:
What others have rated
Hon. Peter C. Dorsey
evaluator
ID
date
Temp* Sch* Indu* Comp* Punct* Ev-Cv* Ev-Cr* Flex Bail Crim Settle Trial Sent Coop Average
Criminal Defense Lawyer
18402
1/1/12
0
10
10
10
10
10
0
9
0
0
9
0
0
10
10
Criminal Defense Lawyer
8911
1/2/09
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
3
3
5
3
1
5
10
Criminal Defense Lawyer
8298
1/1/09
3
3
2
8
6
1
0
0
0
0
5
0
0
0
3.8
Other
5022
1/1/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
3715
1/2/07
9
10
9
10
0
10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
9.6
Civil Litigation - Private
3089
1/2/06
10
8
10
8
10
10
0
10
0
0
0
0
0
0
9.3
Civil Litigation - Private
1988
1/2/06
10
8
0
8
8
10
10
10
0
0
10
0
0
0
9
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
18402
1/1/12
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
8911
1/2/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
8298
1/1/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Other
5022
1/1/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
3715
1/2/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
3089
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
1988
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
category average
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Non-lawyer Rating
(if applicable)
evaluator
ID
date
Rating
Other
3022
1/1/06
4
Other
1922
1/2/06
7
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. Peter C. Dorsey
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
18402
rating:
10
I was hoping to meet him in 2012; but our Father called him Home. I'll still meet him.
1/1/12, 6:48 PM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
8911
rating:
10
In my opinion, the most lenient federal judge in CT as of 2009. While he is certainly no pushover, he has pro-defense views.
1/2/09, 7:26 AM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
8298
rating:
3.8
1/1/09, 2:02 PM
Other
comment #:
5022
rating:
0
This federal judge apparently strikes deals with the parties with the greatest wealth in the case. He then renders his decision in a way that will favor his partner in the case. In our case he disallowed evidence that would have had a material impact on the decision due to the defendant's allegation that an attorney-client relationship existed when the evidence was created. He is unprofessional and really should retire. His lack of professionalism was demonstrated when he called the plaintiff into his chambers and threatened her that his decision would ensure that she would 'get nothing' if he had to decide the case and that she should let him try to get what he call a 'fair settlement'. He was right -- the plaintiff got nothing as the jury was not allowed to hear the evidence in the trial.
1/1/07, 11:40 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
3715
rating:
9.6
Judge Dorsey is one of the most procedurally-savvy judges I've encountered. He has a finely nuanced understanding of both the authority and practicality of complex litigation, particularly class litigation. He gives the lawyers the best possible chance to make their positions clear, both on paper (he's generous in granting permission for enlarged briefs on complex or novel issues) and in person. One tip for counsel: Although he has no problem granting permission for an enlarged brief, make sure you actually need it -- he will comment (sometimes in the decision for all to see) if he thinks you're just padding things, and that won't do your position much good (as an opponent of mine found out to his chagrin).
1/2/07, 5:25 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
3089
rating:
9.3
Judge Dorsey does try to be fair and is very good to lawyers. He is a very likable guy and loves to tell a good joke and shoot the breeze.
1/2/06, 9:45 AM
Other
comment #:
3022
rating:
0
He's too old and crotchety to still be on the bench. Definitely not an objective arbiter.
1/1/06, 7:13 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
1988
rating:
9
Judge Dorsey is a dying breed on the federal bench in Connecticut. He is a lawyers' judge, fair, funny and personable, unfortunately surrounded by an increasing crop of imperious colleagues.
1/2/06, 12:15 AM
Other
comment #:
1922
rating:
0
As a former prosecutor, Judge Dorsey is remarkably fair on the Defense. He will not tolerate mistakes from the government. (Probably because he thinks he wouldn't have made that mistake when he was the prosecutor.) He was the first Judge to release a guilty Defendant because the government took too long to prosecute. Don't speak to him late in the day, you'll never get home on time.
1/2/06, 8:58 PM
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