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THE ROBING ROOM
where judges are judged
Hon. Frederick J. Kapala
District judge
N.D.Ill.
7th Circuit
Average Rating:
6.2
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2
rating(s)
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Ratings:
What others have rated
Hon. Frederick J. Kapala
evaluator
ID
date
Temp* Sch* Indu* Comp* Punct* Ev-Cv* Ev-Cr* Flex Bail Crim Settle Trial Sent Coop Average
Civil Litigation - Private
21036
1/1/13
9
8
9
8
10
8
0
10
0
0
8
0
0
0
8.7
Civil Litigation - Private
12603
1/1/11
2
3
5
3
7
1
5
3
4
4
3
4
4
5
3.7
category average
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Items marked with (*) are averaged into the displayed overall rating
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Qu-Arg
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Cri
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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
21036
1/1/13
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
12603
1/1/11
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
category average
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Non-lawyer Rating
(if applicable)
evaluator
ID
date
Rating
category average
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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. Frederick J. Kapala
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
21036
rating:
8.7
I've known Judge Kapala since his days as a circuit court judge in Winnebago County. His demeanor and respect for the litigants has always been outstanding. He has enough of an ego that he's been appointed as a U.S. District Court Judge, but is very down to earth and displays genuine humility. I've tried more than one case in front of Judge Kapala and found him to be very even-handed and striving for the right result, even if it means stopping the trial to research and accept submissions from the attorneys before ruling. As a point of interest, rather than a secretary, Judge Kapala uses his staff budget to employ three permanent law clerks. My only criticism is that during trial he often gives the attorneys too much freedom so that trials are longer than they might be under a more controlling judge. In ruling on dispositive motions, he does not release any of his memoranda of decision for publication. He still appears to me to be writing as an appellate judge, taking his time -- as much as six months for a decision -- and drafting lengthy opinions which seem to be written with the 7th Circuit in mind. I will grant that he is very much a political animal, still very much involved in state and local Republican politics, albeit behind the scenes. But, I truly believe that what he lacks in intellect he more than makes up for in hard work and a willingness to let counsel educate him where he does not know. On the civil side, he tries to do what is legally correct.
1/1/13, 4:10 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
12603
rating:
3.7
This guy is super-anal. pro-government nit-picker who can often totally miss the boat by jumping to conclusions by being petty, He's much more interested in form and typos over substance or attaining real justice. I've overheard Justices he severed with on the Illinois Appellate Court comment, I'n addition to being glad to see him leave, and have observed for myself, that he's not above politics. My 'spies' tell me he has never commanded the respect of any of his peers. Even the local Magistrate Judge (a splendid fellow and wonderful jurist - Kapala couldn't shine his shoes) has been seen to involuntary roll his eyes (he's too classy to comment) at what he does, as do many of the bar. Watch out! Judge Kapala will twist and use anything you might say against you in his minute order and seems to thrive on ad homonym attacks on lawyers and litigants in his written opinions, in chambers and in his courtroom. Bottom line, the reality is that if you file a case in the U.S. District Court in Rockford you'll pretty much be stuck with this condescending, petty, 'small' man. The saving factor, you'll have the distinct pleasure of spending most of your time before Magistrate Judge Mahoney, one of the most fair, most competent, most respectful and respected jurists there is!
1/1/11, 7:33 PM
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