top of page
THE ROBING ROOM
where judges are judged
Hon. Nancy F. Atlas
District judge
S.D.Tex.
5th Circuit
Average Rating:
8.5
-
14
rating(s)
rating submitted
Please send me alerts on this judge
subscribed
Ratings:
What others have rated
Hon. Nancy F. Atlas
evaluator
ID
date
Temp* Sch* Indu* Comp* Punct* Ev-Cv* Ev-Cr* Flex Bail Crim Settle Trial Sent Coop Average
Other
8580
1/2/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
8506
1/1/09
10
10
10
10
10
10
0
8
0
0
0
0
0
0
10
Civil Litigation - Private
8398
1/2/09
10
10
10
10
10
10
7
7
0
0
10
0
0
0
9.6
Civil Litigation - Private
8315
1/2/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
6261
1/1/08
8
9
8
9
7
9
0
9
0
0
0
0
0
0
8.3
Civil Litigation - Private
4715
1/1/07
10
10
10
10
10
10
0
5
0
0
3
0
0
0
10
Civil Litigation - Private
3788
1/1/07
8
9
9
10
10
9
0
7
0
0
0
0
0
0
9.2
Criminal Defense Lawyer
3688
1/2/07
2
2
2
1
0
0
2
1
0
4
0
4
4
0
1.8
Civil Litigation - Private
3488
1/2/07
10
9
9
9
8
10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
9.2
Civil Litigation - Private
3417
1/1/07
10
9
10
10
10
10
0
10
0
0
0
0
0
0
9.8
Civil Litigation - Private
3144
1/3/06
10
9
10
9
9
10
0
10
0
0
6
0
0
0
9.5
Civil Litigation - Private
2939
1/1/06
8
8
8
8
10
8
0
10
0
0
10
0
0
0
8.3
Civil Litigation - Private
1808
1/2/06
9
9
9
9
9
9
0
8
0
0
8
0
0
0
9
Criminal Defense Lawyer
1471
1/2/06
8
8
8
8
0
0
6
8
0
0
0
0
0
0
7.6
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
Other
8580
1/2/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
8506
1/1/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
8398
1/2/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
8315
1/2/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
6261
1/1/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
4715
1/1/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
3788
1/1/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
3688
1/2/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
3488
1/2/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
3417
1/1/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
3144
1/3/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
2939
1/1/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
1808
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
1471
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. Nancy F. Atlas
Other
comment #:
8580
rating:
0
She makes an inmate think they if they keep their noses clean if their case comes back before her she will be fair. my child had a mistrial and instead of her throwing it out .HE IS SERVING A LIFE SENTENCE. I'm very disappointed with Nancy Atlas. even after spending over 100k and he didn't even kill anyone she sentenced him to life at 25yrs old.
1/2/09, 7:10 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
8506
rating:
10
One of 5 best judges I have practiced before, nationwide, in 35 years. Very bright, gets the point quickly, great sense of humor, puts in very long days, and knows the issues. Does not abide witnesses (or lawyers) who try to blow smoke, and is not afraid to bring them up short. Be candid about strengths and weaknesses of your case, be fully prepared on the facts and law, and you will have a good litigation experience in her court.
1/1/09, 5:32 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
8398
rating:
9.6
Judge Atlas never loses her attentiveness during trial. She constantly concentrates on what is going on and keeps copious notes of the proceedings. She can be quite blunt for anyone not fully prepared. Her decisions on objections are quick and usually correct. Her only flaw is that she can sometimes be overtly impatient with objections. Consequently, her responses can appear as motivated by irritation at interruption in the flow of testimony as much as consideration of the validity of the objection. She is consistently courteous to the attorneys while also keeping firm control of the courtroom. Even though I do not always agree with her interpretation of the law, when I go into her courtroom I know that she will treat both sides in an even handed manner. Great judge.
1/2/09, 7:36 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
8315
rating:
0
If she is one of the better judges in Texas I would hate to know what the other ones are like. She totally ignored the opposing counsel, never giving me any hard copies ever of anything and ignored a huge conflict of interest he had, granting him orders in 48 hours (non-emergency), without giving me 20 days to respond,and this went on and on. I never knew what was happening -- ever! I had to go pull the court docket every day, manually. I flipped to BK7 to get away from her -- and conduct a fair trial there. I can only presume that she liked the other attorney. It makes sense that she has to keep a fair rep with lawyers that appear before her all the time. She does not like out-of-towners. (Even if we did follow all of the rules.) Bottom Line? Hire a lawyer or co-counsel that she has favored in the past in her city. Better yet -- hire one who was her dorm roommate in law school!(Especially if your client faces the death penalty!)
1/2/09, 1:24 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
6261
rating:
8.3
1/1/08, 8:02 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
4715
rating:
10
A very bright and fair judge. A real pleasure to litigate with.
1/1/07, 11:48 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
3788
rating:
9.2
Very good judge. Generally fair.
1/1/07, 9:41 AM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
3688
rating:
1.8
She's awful.
1/2/07, 7:00 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
3488
rating:
9.2
Great judge; very smart, extremely easy to deal with. She always strives to be fair.
1/2/07, 5:15 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
3417
rating:
9.8
Excellent judge. Well-read, even-handed, extremely efficient.
1/1/07, 4:06 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
3144
rating:
9.5
She really listens, really tries to be practical, and really works to get a fair result for the clients (and perhaps even a prompt result). She doesn't have ego problems but is confident enough to make rulings, often writing long opinions. Guaranteed fair treatment in this court.
1/3/06, 2:56 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
2939
rating:
8.3
Very competent and fair judge for civil matters
1/1/06, 11:08 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
1808
rating:
9
very conscientious, hard working, intelligent; fair
1/2/06, 6:44 AM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
1471
rating:
7.6
I appeared before Judge Atlas in a death penalty habeas case. She was responsive to our pleadings and motions, although we did not get everything we wanted. I have found her to be one of the better judges in Texas.
1/2/06, 11:01 PM
HOME
bottom of page