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Hon. Ortrie D. Smith
District judge
W.D.Mo.
8th Circuit
Average Rating:
8.3
 -
11
rating(s)

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Comment:

Rating:

*Temperament:  
*Scholarship: 
*Industriousness: 
*Ability to Handle Complex Litigation:  
*Punctuality:  
*Evenhandedness in Civil Litigation:  
*Evenhandedness in Criminal Litigation: 
Flexibility In Scheduling 
General Inclination Regarding Bail
General Incl. in Criminal Cases, Pre-Trial: 
Involvement in Civil Settlement Discussions:

General Incl. in Criminal Cases, Trial:

General Incl. in Criminal Cases, Sentencing:

Typical Discount Off Guidelines for Cooperators:

  Items marked with (*) are averaged into the displayed overall rating

(1=Awful,10=Excellent)
(1=Awful,10=Excellent)
(1=Not at all industrious,10=Highly industrious)
(1=Awful,10=Excellent)
(1=Chronic`y Late,10=Always on Time)
(1=Demonstrates Bias,10=Entirely Evenhanded)
(1=Demonstrates Bias,10=Entirely Evenhanded)
(1=Completely Inflexible,10=Very Flexible)
(1=Pro-Defense,10=Pro-Government)
(1=Pro-Defense,10=Pro-Government)
(1=Least Involved,10=Most Involved)

(1=Pro-Defense,10=Pro-Government)

(1=Most Lenient,10=Most Harsh)

(1=10%,10=100%)

How familiar are you with the work of this judge?:
Participates in Oral Argument:
Quality of Questions During Oral Argument:
Attitude during oral argument:

Scholarship as reflected in Opinions:

General Inclination in Criminal Appeals:

General Inclination in Civil Rights Appeals:

General Inclination in Labor Law Appeals:

General Inclination in Immigration Appeals:

(1=Not at all familiar,10=Extremely familiar)

(1=Rarely,10=Always)

(1=Poor,10=Extremely insightful)

(1=Consistently inappropriate,10=Cons. respectful)

(1=Poor,10=Outstanding)

(1=Strongly Pro­Government,10=Strongly Pro­Defense)

(1=Strongly Pro-Defendant,10=Strongly Pro­Plaintiff)

(1=Strongly Pro­Employee,10=Strongly Pro­Employer)

(1=Strongly Pro­Immigrant,10=Strongly Pro­Gov.)

Non-lawyer rating (if applicable)

(1= worst, 10=best)

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

read comment
Civil Litigation - Private

11512

1/1/10

10

7

9

10

10

10

0

9

0

0

1

0
0
0

9.3

read comment
Other

9846

1/2/10

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0
0
0

0

read comment
Civil Litigation - Private

9300

1/2/09

10

9

9

9

10

10

10

7

0

0

9

0
0
0

9.6

read comment
Criminal Defense Lawyer

4798

1/2/07

6

5

5

6

10

0

5

6

4

5

0

1
5
5

6.2

read comment
Prosecutor

4787

1/1/07

9

9

9

0

9

0

8

8

5

5

0

4
4
5

8.8

read comment
Civil Litigation - Private

2789

1/2/06

7

5

7

5

9

8

0

4

0

0

2

0
0
0

6.8

read comment
Civil Litigation - Private

2095

1/2/06

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0
0
0

0

read comment
Civil Litigation - Private

1744

1/2/06

10

8

8

8

9

10

0

10

0

0

0

0
0
0

8.8

read comment
Criminal Defense Lawyer

1715

1/2/06

9

8

9

8

9

0

8

8

3

5

0

5
4
5

8.5

read comment
Criminal Defense Lawyer

1371

1/2/06

9

8

10

10

10

0

6

0

6

5

0

5
6
5

8.8

read comment
category average

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-
-
-

-

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

read comment
Civil Litigation - Private

11512

1/1/10

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

read comment
Other

9846

1/2/10

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

read comment
Civil Litigation - Private

9300

1/2/09

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

read comment
Criminal Defense Lawyer

4798

1/2/07

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

read comment
Prosecutor

4787

1/1/07

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

read comment
Civil Litigation - Private

2789

1/2/06

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

read comment
Civil Litigation - Private

2095

1/2/06

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

read comment
Civil Litigation - Private

1744

1/2/06

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

read comment
Criminal Defense Lawyer

1715

1/2/06

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

read comment
Criminal Defense Lawyer

1371

1/2/06

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

read comment
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

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Litigant
comment #:
12012
rating:
0
average rating is 3 out of 5
average rating is 3 out of 5
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
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Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
11512
rating:
9.3
average rating is 3 out of 5
average rating is 3 out of 5
1/1/10, 2:59 PM
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Other
comment #:
9846
rating:
0
average rating is 3 out of 5
average rating is 3 out of 5
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
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Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
9300
rating:
9.6
average rating is 3 out of 5
average rating is 3 out of 5
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
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Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
4798
rating:
6.2
average rating is 3 out of 5
average rating is 3 out of 5
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
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Prosecutor
comment #:
4787
rating:
8.8
average rating is 3 out of 5
average rating is 3 out of 5
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
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Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
2789
rating:
6.8
average rating is 3 out of 5
average rating is 3 out of 5
1/2/06, 4:20 PM
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Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
2095
rating:
0
average rating is 3 out of 5
average rating is 3 out of 5
Excellent, involved judge who takes his job very seriously.
1/2/06, 2:39 AM
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Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
1744
rating:
8.8
average rating is 3 out of 5
average rating is 3 out of 5
1/2/06, 2:50 AM
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Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
1715
rating:
8.5
average rating is 3 out of 5
average rating is 3 out of 5
1/2/06, 4:01 AM
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Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
1371
rating:
8.8
average rating is 3 out of 5
average rating is 3 out of 5
Judge Smith is a very even-handed judge, unfailingly courteous to parties and counsel.
1/2/06, 4:13 PM
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