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THE ROBING ROOM
where judges are judged
Hon. Margaret C. Rodgers
District judge
N.D.Fla.
11th Circuit
Average Rating:
4.3
-
9
rating(s)
rating submitted
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Ratings:
What others have rated
Hon. Margaret C. Rodgers
evaluator
ID
date
Temp* Sch* Indu* Comp* Punct* Ev-Cv* Ev-Cr* Flex Bail Crim Settle Trial Sent Coop Average
Civil Litigation - Private
22929
1/2/15
6
4
5
3
2
3
0
9
0
0
0
0
0
0
3.8
Other
22365
1/2/15
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
19319
1/1/13
2
3
0
3
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2.8
Civil Litigation - Private
18024
1/2/12
3
2
7
2
9
2
0
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
4.2
Civil Litigation - Private
13817
1/2/12
3
4
2
2
5
2
0
7
0
0
2
0
0
0
3
Civil Litigation - Private
12970
1/1/11
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
6895
1/2/08
10
9
10
8
9
10
7
5
5
5
3
5
6
5
9
Criminal Defense Lawyer
1333
1/2/06
1
1
7
1
5
5
1
1
10
10
0
10
10
10
3
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
22929
1/2/15
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Other
22365
1/2/15
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
19319
1/1/13
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
18024
1/2/12
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
13817
1/2/12
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
12970
1/1/11
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
6895
1/2/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
1333
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
category average
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Non-lawyer Rating
(if applicable)
evaluator
ID
date
Rating
Other
22887
1/2/15
1
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. Margaret C. Rodgers
Other
comment #:
22887
rating:
0
She is too quick to give too severe sentences for contempt of court and other questionable offences. She refused to recuse herself from the 2015 retrial of Kent Hovind in spite of bias against him.
1/2/15, 1:54 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
22929
rating:
3.8
I have appeared before Judge Rodgers several times in recent years and she appears to have matured as a judge during this period. Initially, both her comments from the bench and her written opinions reflected a Queen of Hearts temperament - 'off with their heads!' More recently, her temperament has been more balanced and the quality of her opinions has improved. She is no legal scholar, but at least her most recent opinions reflected that she understood the legal issues and at least some of the arguments of counsel. She remains a bit impulsive and prone to outbursts, both in per son and on paper. She is a bit abrupt in her courtroom manner. She is exceedingly slow in ruling on non-emergency motions. In order to get her to rule on a dispositive motion of nationwide importance, we were forced to file for a writ of mandamus from the Eleventh Circui.
1/2/15, 1:22 AM
Other
comment #:
22365
rating:
0
I've written two federal lawsuits, pro se, one of which suceeded. I've examined the transcript of one criminal case overseen by Rodgers. It was very troubling. The defense somehow managed to file an appeal prematurely, which the clerk interpreted as an interlocutory appeal. In court, the defense then asked to have the 'interlocutory' appeal regarded as a properly filed appeal. Rodgers told the defense that they would have to research case law to find out if she, Rodgers, could do that. Strange.... Rodgers also repeatedly ignored citations of clearly established case law.
1/2/15, 1:29 AM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
19319
rating:
2.8
She is doing some good things in her capacity as a federal judge regarding criminal rehabilitation efforts. The problem is she was unqualified to be a federal judge when appointed though she has mellowed and matured some since. She reasons to conclusions and has for example a reputation of ignoring Florida bad faith law in favor of her view of what the law should be.
1/1/13, 11:27 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
18024
rating:
4.2
Judge Rodgers appears to be a results-oriented pro-business judge. She freely ignores binding precedent in order to reach her desired result. Her legal reasoning, such as it is, tends to be an afterthought to justify her policy-oriented decision. She displays little intellectual integrity and is highly predictable in her rulings.
1/2/12, 11:56 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
13817
rating:
3
Lacks familiarity with cases before her. Does not read or understand filings that attorneys have labored over. Poor work ethic, not much sense of impartiality.
1/2/12, 9:46 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
12970
rating:
0
Was very slow to rule on or review motions. I was worried that this meant she was too busy and would want to get rid of cases to lighten her load. Sadly it seems I was right as my case was dismissed with sketch logic that did not add up at all. It is not consistent with case law and will not doubt be quoted time and time again in the near future by lawyers in similar cases. She twisted the law as far as she could to lighten her load.
1/1/11, 9:55 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
6895
rating:
9
Although she came to the bench without a great deal of trial experience she has worked hard at learning the job and has significantly improved. Industrious and fair, she is a good judge now and will be very good as she gathers experience.
1/2/08, 12:03 AM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
1333
rating:
3
1/2/06, 3:01 PM
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