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THE ROBING ROOM
where judges are judged
Hon. Michael J. Watanabe
Magistrate judge
D.Colo.
10th Circuit
Average Rating:
4.2
-
16
rating(s)
rating submitted
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Ratings:
What others have rated
Hon. Michael J. Watanabe
evaluator
ID
date
Temp* Sch* Indu* Comp* Punct* Ev-Cv* Ev-Cr* Flex Bail Crim Settle Trial Sent Coop Average
Civil Litigation - Private
25673
1/2/18
2
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1.5
Criminal Defense Lawyer
25675
1/2/18
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
1
Civil Litigation - Private
25373
1/2/18
10
10
9
10
10
10
0
8
0
0
10
0
0
0
9.8
Criminal Defense Lawyer
18939
1/2/12
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
Civil Litigation - Private
12483
1/2/11
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
Civil Litigation - Govt.
9174
1/1/09
10
10
10
10
10
10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
10
Civil Litigation - Private
8696
1/2/09
4
1
1
1
6
1
0
5
0
0
1
0
0
0
2.3
Civil Litigation - Private
5974
1/3/08
3
2
0
1
8
1
0
2
0
0
2
0
0
0
3
Civil Litigation - Private
4171
1/1/07
8
4
3
10
10
10
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
7.5
Civil Litigation - Private
4179
1/2/07
5
4
1
0
10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
Litigant
3369
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
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
Civil Litigation - Private
25673
1/2/18
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
25675
1/2/18
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
25373
1/2/18
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
18939
1/2/12
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
12483
1/2/11
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Govt.
9174
1/1/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
8696
1/2/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
5974
1/3/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
4171
1/1/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
4179
1/2/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Litigant
3369
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
category average
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Non-lawyer Rating
(if applicable)
evaluator
ID
date
Rating
Litigant
22653
1/2/15
1
Other
21284
1/2/13
1
Other
13680
1/1/12
1
Other
4007
1/2/07
4
Other
4042
1/1/07
10
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. Michael J. Watanabe
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
25673
rating:
1.5
good riddance. Positively reeks of bias
1/2/18, 3:22 PM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
25675
rating:
1
This person is why Bullying laws need to be enforced. We fight bullying in schools and businesses it needs to apply to these highhanded Judges starting with Judges Wantanabe all his cases should be viewed for Bias and redone as would any case, being reviewed for criminal activity. What he does is against the laws he is to uphold get rid of him and review all cases of folks who have filed complaints regarding bullying! ,
1/2/18, 6:15 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
25373
rating:
9.8
I have appeared many times in front of Judge Watanabe and have always found him to run a structured courtroom. His clerks have always been quite well organized and friendly. Watanabe demonstrates fairness, and his instructions and objections have proved to be well-reasoned.
1/2/18, 2:25 AM
Litigant
comment #:
22653
rating:
0
Biased toward corporations, and against people who file complaints against them. Dismissed part of my case because he said items were not in the original EEOC filing. They were in the original filing so he must have not read it carefully. He rendered an opinion to dismiss most of my case before he read the transcripts of the depositions. I felt he was lazy, biased and didn't care about the facts of the case.
1/2/15, 11:16 AM
Other
comment #:
21284
rating:
0
This so-called judge was a district attorney years ago. In a criminal trial, he disregarded evidence that would have exonerated the defendant. He acted like a bully, was arrogant during the trial, and acted surprised when the jury acquitted the defendant. He was a very dishonest district attorney, who had no business being in law.
1/2/13, 9:36 AM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
18939
rating:
1
Has to be the worst magistrate ever. Lazy, anti individual, and his rulings make less sense than a dr. Suess book. This is a guy who if he was in private practice, you wonder ponder whether he was absent the day they taught law in law school.
1/2/12, 2:08 AM
Other
comment #:
13680
rating:
0
Because of the erratic rulings that this judge has continuously meted out, rumors within Colorado’s legal community abound regarding his personal life, sexual proclivities, and qualifications. In one case, he took Judicial Notice that a female litigate was thin, attractive, and how often she engaged in sexual relations. In other, when he was still sitting on the bench in Arapahoe County, he ruled that the best interest of a ten year old child was “irrelevant.” Watanabe exemplifies what is wrong with lifetime tenure, or an appointment system equating to lifetime tenure, coupled with absolute immunity. Four year term limits would have disposed of him years ago.
1/1/12, 8:38 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
12483
rating:
1
surprised at being told in a settlement conference that He wouldnt allow it to go over the amount that the defense had indicated rather than actually try to settle
1/2/11, 4:33 PM
Civil Litigation - Govt.
comment #:
9174
rating:
10
I have greatly enjoyed appearing before this Magistrate Judge. He listens patiently, rules carefully, and always treats all attorneys with respect.
1/1/09, 11:27 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
8696
rating:
2.3
His breezy style masks a lack of depth. Smart enough but too lazy to study the law and too insecure to admit he doesn't know it. Discovery orders are so haphazardly constructed they grant relief not requested. Plaintiffs beware - this Judge assumes your case is not legitimate regardless of its actual merits. Civil corporate defendants rejoice. Just complain you are being unduly burdened and you will get what you want, or more.
1/2/09, 7:02 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
5974
rating:
3
I think he is over his head in the job he has. If he wasn't wearing a robe, you'd confuse him with the hot dog vendor on the corner of 17th & Stout. He is unabashedly biased and writes discovery orders so vaguely as to mask any reasoning, making it difficult to reverse.
1/3/08, 12:56 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
4171
rating:
7.5
He has not been able to settle cases, he seems to find little or no merit in cases that ultimately result in good settlements in front of other mediators.
1/1/07, 10:31 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
4179
rating:
5
Doesn't even try to settle cases at settlement conferences.
1/2/07, 2:46 AM
Other
comment #:
4007
rating:
0
A court filed affidavit dated 2/12/2007 alleged that this magistrate pulled a pro se litigant aside and warned her that 'Pro se litigants never win in this court' and he revealed his predetermination of her causes of action against a state district judge based upon his prior relationship with that judge when he, himself, had been a judge and mentored that former judge. The document, which contains the affidavit attachement is located here: http://www.knowyourcourts.com/divorceIndustry/docs/2007-02-13_memo-toChiefJudgeBabcock.pdf
1/2/07, 12:20 PM
Other
comment #:
4042
rating:
0
1/1/07, 1:38 PM
Litigant
comment #:
3369
rating:
0
Although I have only examined Magistrate Watanabe's work product in one case (not my own!), it was so atrocious as to cast aspersions on his character, scholarship, or both. Judicial misconduct is like a bear in the woods: while you might not always see him, when you find his paw-print in the mud, you know he’s out there. While few litigants can ever expect to see a wad of bills being slipped under a robe, or the kind of judicial “favor-trading” described by Prof. Dershowitz, the paw-prints -- irrational decisions, in irreconcilable conflict with precedent -- are generally unmistakable. Professor Karl Llewellyn bluntly observed that dishonest judges routinely engage in manhandling ... the facts of the pending case, or of the precedent, so as to make it falsely appear that the case in hand falls under a rule which in fact it does not fit, or especially that it falls outside of a rule which would lead in the instant case to a conclusion the court cannot stomach. [Karl Llewellyn, The Common Law Tradition: Deciding Appeals (1960) at 133.
1/2/06, 6:19 PM
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