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THE ROBING ROOM
where judges are judged
Hon. Sam Sparks
District judge
W.D.Tex.
5th Circuit
Average Rating:
6.2
-
20
rating(s)
rating submitted
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Ratings:
What others have rated
Hon. Sam Sparks
evaluator
ID
date
Temp* Sch* Indu* Comp* Punct* Ev-Cv* Ev-Cr* Flex Bail Crim Settle Trial Sent Coop Average
Civil Litigation - Private
23392
1/1/16
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
20965
1/1/13
1
5
2
5
9
1
0
7
0
0
0
0
0
0
3.8
Civil Litigation - Private
18501
1/2/12
3
8
10
10
10
10
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
8.5
Civil Litigation - Private
12232
1/2/11
1
1
2
1
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1.3
Civil Litigation - Private
9609
1/1/09
3
4
3
3
10
4
0
4
0
0
1
0
0
0
4.5
Civil Litigation - Private
9470
1/2/09
8
8
10
10
10
9
9
8
0
0
9
5
4
0
9.1
Criminal Defense Lawyer
9210
1/2/09
2
6
6
7
8
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5.3
Criminal Defense Lawyer
9090
1/2/09
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
7
0
0
5
5
7
0
10
Criminal Defense Lawyer
6966
1/1/08
8
8
6
9
8
10
0
10
0
0
0
0
0
0
8.2
Criminal Defense Lawyer
6567
1/3/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
5169
1/2/07
2
2
3
3
4
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2.7
Civil Litigation - Private
4712
1/1/07
1
7
8
8
6
3
0
2
0
0
1
0
0
0
5.5
Criminal Defense Lawyer
4535
1/2/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
3711
1/2/07
9
10
10
10
10
0
10
5
0
0
0
5
5
2
9.8
Criminal Defense Lawyer
2499
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
2191
1/2/06
1
1
3
2
3
1
0
2
0
0
1
0
0
0
1.8
Civil Litigation - Private
2036
1/1/06
7
10
10
10
9
10
0
8
0
0
0
0
0
0
9.3
Civil Litigation - Govt.
1986
1/1/06
1
3
7
3
5
1
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
3.3
Criminal Defense Lawyer
1465
1/2/06
6
7
8
8
0
0
7
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
7.2
Criminal Defense Lawyer
1476
1/3/06
8
10
9
0
7
0
7
9
7
7
0
5
7
4
8.2
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
Civil Litigation - Private
23392
1/1/16
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
20965
1/1/13
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
18501
1/2/12
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
12232
1/2/11
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
9609
1/1/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
9470
1/2/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
9210
1/2/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
9090
1/2/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
6966
1/1/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
6567
1/3/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
5169
1/2/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
4712
1/1/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
4535
1/2/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
3711
1/2/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
2499
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
2191
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
2036
1/1/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Govt.
1986
1/1/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
1465
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
1476
1/3/06
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. Sam Sparks
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
23392
rating:
0
I have been in front of Judge Sparks numerous times. He is smart and doesn't take BS. He can be a little grumpy with attorneys and litigants when there is NO jury. He is very professional when there is a jury. Even though he can be a little grumpy at times, he almost always gets to the proper legal conclusion including with complex issues/cases. Long story short, I would gladly try a case in his court any day.
1/1/16, 10:36 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
20965
rating:
3.8
Decide the case first, make comments, and then look at the evidence -- that is Judge Sparks's modus operandi.
1/1/13, 9:35 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
18501
rating:
8.5
He's pretty smart (although he's too desireous of trying to show it), runs a tight ship and is very concerned about not wasting a jury's time. He does not seem to have a bias one way or another towards plaintiffs or defendants in civil matters. I have tried two cases in his court and won them both, so if anything, I should biased in his favor...but here's the thing: he does not have a suitable temperament to be on the bench. While I have been lucky enough to have never angered him, it doesn't appear to take much to do so, and when you get on his bad side, he treats you very poorly. He becomes abusive and sarcastic. He treated my opposing cousel as badly as I have ever seen a judge treat an attorney. I actually ended up feeling sorry for my opposing counsel. I believe one can be an effective judge without being a jerk. I think Judge Sparks has forgotten what it's like to be a practicing lawyer.
1/2/12, 3:42 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
12232
rating:
1.3
This was my second experience with Judge Sparks - I used to think he was either an idiot or just lazy. Now I am convinced he is both.
1/2/11, 10:19 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
9609
rating:
4.5
Not nearly as smart as he thinks he is.
1/1/09, 3:08 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
9470
rating:
9.1
Incredibly smart, quick, and well prepared judge. Judge Sparks is very hardworking and expects the same of attorneys who appear in his courtroom. He is incredibly fair, knows the law, and is not politically motivated.
1/2/09, 8:27 AM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
9210
rating:
5.3
He is rude and can make biased rulings against a party that he decides to hate. He is very bright but doesn't have the temperment or patience to be a fair jurist. If you aren't prepared, be prepared to be treated even worse.
1/2/09, 6:53 AM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
9090
rating:
10
Best damn judge in the Western District--holds lawyers to a high standard, which many do no appreciate. Works harder than anyone, 7 days a week.
1/2/09, 4:03 PM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
6966
rating:
8.2
1/1/08, 11:16 PM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
6567
rating:
0
No-nonsense and intense, and overall fair.
1/3/08, 4:13 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
5169
rating:
2.7
Arrogant and bitter, and frankly not that smart. Worst judge in the Western District of Texas. I'm counting the days until he retires.
1/2/07, 1:44 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
4712
rating:
5.5
Very sarcastic toward attorneys. Arrogant. Extremely temperamental. Very bad reputation with attorneys. Not well liked at all. Decides cases on motions, allowing few jury trials. Not always honest in how he portrays facts in his opinions.
1/1/07, 11:38 PM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
4535
rating:
0
1/2/07, 11:04 AM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
3711
rating:
9.8
1/2/07, 4:34 AM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
2499
rating:
0
The previous rating (#2495), giving Judge Sparks universally high marks, adds little to this website. We'd like to see more detailed analysis and anecdotal information. Therobingroom.com
1/2/06, 1:09 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
2191
rating:
1.8
He is vicious and mercurial. He's reasonably bright, and not afraid to stand up to powerful litigants, e.g., Dick Thornburgh and Tom DeLay, both of whom he suggested were liars. Yet he's also willing to bully small time litigants and lawyers who just rub him the wrong way. In short, the quality of justice in his courtroom is random.
1/2/06, 6:39 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
2036
rating:
9.3
Judge Sparks is smart, fair and moves cases quickly.
1/1/06, 4:11 PM
Civil Litigation - Govt.
comment #:
1986
rating:
3.3
He is a loon. He decides who he believes should win near the beginning of cases, and then ignores any subsequent evidence to the contrary. He is evenhanded only in his casual abuse of all lawyers in his courtroom. He does work hard and usually turns around motions quickly, but often at the expense, apparently, of reading them quickly.
1/1/06, 8:11 PM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
1465
rating:
7.2
I was before Judge Sparks in capital habeas litigation. I have also appeared before him in a complex criminal case. He certainly runs his courtroom and his cases. But he was one of the better judges in Texas that I have appeared before.
1/2/06, 10:33 PM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
1476
rating:
8.2
Runs a very tight ship. I've seen him offer criticism, constructive and otherwise, to defense counsel, defendants, prosecutors and even jury panelists.
1/3/06, 12:21 AM
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