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THE ROBING ROOM
where judges are judged
Hon. Ortrie D. Smith
District judge
W.D.Mo.
8th Circuit
Average Rating:
8.3
-
11
rating(s)
rating submitted
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Ratings:
What others have rated
Hon. Ortrie D. Smith
evaluator
ID
date
Temp* Sch* Indu* Comp* Punct* Ev-Cv* Ev-Cr* Flex Bail Crim Settle Trial Sent Coop Average
Litigant
12012
1/2/11
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
11512
1/1/10
10
7
9
10
10
10
0
9
0
0
1
0
0
0
9.3
Other
9846
1/2/10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
9300
1/2/09
10
9
9
9
10
10
10
7
0
0
9
0
0
0
9.6
Criminal Defense Lawyer
4798
1/2/07
6
5
5
6
10
0
5
6
4
5
0
1
5
5
6.2
Prosecutor
4787
1/1/07
9
9
9
0
9
0
8
8
5
5
0
4
4
5
8.8
Civil Litigation - Private
2789
1/2/06
7
5
7
5
9
8
0
4
0
0
2
0
0
0
6.8
Civil Litigation - Private
2095
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
1744
1/2/06
10
8
8
8
9
10
0
10
0
0
0
0
0
0
8.8
Criminal Defense Lawyer
1715
1/2/06
9
8
9
8
9
0
8
8
3
5
0
5
4
5
8.5
Criminal Defense Lawyer
1371
1/2/06
9
8
10
10
10
0
6
0
6
5
0
5
6
5
8.8
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
Litigant
12012
1/2/11
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
11512
1/1/10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Other
9846
1/2/10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
9300
1/2/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
4798
1/2/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Prosecutor
4787
1/1/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
2789
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
2095
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
1744
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
1715
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
1371
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
category average
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Non-lawyer Rating
(if applicable)
evaluator
ID
date
Rating
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. Ortrie D. Smith

Litigant
comment #:
12012
rating:
0
Each time we get Judge Otrie Smith for a Judge in our case, he dismisses the case. Our case is a Fair Housing and Corruption case, yet he states we do not have a Federal issue. we requested Jury. Motion for reconsideration denied. hmmm. He rules it is not worth more than 75,000, closes case. Will refile and hope we get another judge or at least if we get him again, he reconsiders his dismissing before the summons has even been served. We are looking for Justice here. Bullied and abused good tenants.
1/2/11, 5:01 PM

Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
11512
rating:
9.3
1/1/10, 2:59 PM

Other
comment #:
9846
rating:
0
Dear Honorable Sir: I am writing to thank you for Gizmo, the pitbull that was forced into dog fighting, by Rick Hihath. Thank you for taking the crime of dog fighting seriously. Thank you for sentencing Rick Hihath to 16 months in prison, and for not allowing him to own a dog for three years while he is on probation. However, sixteen months is hardly enough time for such a serious crime. And not owning a dog for three years is not stiff enough. Why not a prison term for 10 years? Why not ban dog ownership for Rick Hihath's entire life? What can we do to change the law to enforce tougher sentencing for abuse of innocent animals? While I do applaud your decision to sentence Rich Hihath, I would have liked to see a stiffer sentence.
1/2/10, 4:16 PM

Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
9300
rating:
9.6
If I had an important decision that affected my life or my family, I'd trust Judge Smith to make it.
1/2/09, 4:05 AM

Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
4798
rating:
6.2
Good judge, except for mandatory sentencing and a total failure at comprehending the relevance of 404b material - gives lip service to it being a rule of inclusion, then always excludes, no matter how relevant.
1/2/07, 2:36 AM

Prosecutor
comment #:
4787
rating:
8.8
Judge Smith is always a gentleman in the courtroom. He really hates to send people off to prison, but will follow the Guidelines as a general rule. He has a big heart, but will usually follow the Eigth Circuit law --except relating to Rule 404(b).
1/1/07, 9:19 PM

Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
2789
rating:
6.8
1/2/06, 4:20 PM

Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
2095
rating:
0
Excellent, involved judge who takes his job very seriously.
1/2/06, 2:39 AM

Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
1744
rating:
8.8
1/2/06, 2:50 AM

Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
1715
rating:
8.5
1/2/06, 4:01 AM

Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
1371
rating:
8.8
Judge Smith is a very even-handed judge, unfailingly courteous to parties and counsel.
1/2/06, 4:13 PM
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