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THE ROBING ROOM
where judges are judged
Hon. Frederic Block
District judge
E.D.N.Y.
2nd Circuit
Average Rating:
6
-
22
rating(s)
rating submitted
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Ratings:
What others have rated
Hon. Frederic Block
evaluator
ID
date
Temp* Sch* Indu* Comp* Punct* Ev-Cv* Ev-Cr* Flex Bail Crim Settle Trial Sent Coop Average
Criminal Defense Lawyer
28729
1/2/18
3
1
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
6
0
0
0
1.4
Civil Litigation - Private
25334
1/1/18
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
21444
1/2/14
2
2
0
2
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
Civil Litigation - Private
19603
1/2/13
9
9
9
9
0
9
9
8
0
0
0
0
0
0
9
Criminal Defense Lawyer
18557
1/2/12
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
13737
1/2/12
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
Civil Litigation - Private
12234
1/2/11
10
10
10
10
9
10
10
9
0
0
10
5
0
0
9.9
Criminal Defense Lawyer
11932
1/2/11
9
10
9
0
9
0
9
9
0
0
0
0
5
0
9.2
Criminal Defense Lawyer
11906
1/2/11
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
9
2
5
0
0
0
0
10
Civil Litigation - Private
8346
1/2/09
5
3
4
0
1
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3.6
Prosecutor
6279
1/1/08
0
9
7
9
9
8
8
5
5
5
5
5
5
8
8.3
Civil Litigation - Govt.
5049
1/2/07
3
9
3
8
5
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
4.8
Criminal Defense Lawyer
4854
1/2/07
3
1
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1.8
Civil Litigation - Private
3633
1/1/07
8
9
6
9
0
8
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
8
Civil Litigation - Private
2268
1/2/06
8
0
8
0
8
8
0
8
0
0
8
0
0
0
8
Criminal Defense Lawyer
1191
1/2/06
7
6
7
7
6
0
6
4
0
7
0
6
6
0
6.5
Civil Litigation - Private
1055
1/2/06
8
6
4
7
5
8
0
9
0
0
0
0
0
0
6.3
Civil Litigation - Private
1061
1/2/06
8
8
6
7
7
9
0
7
0
5
0
5
0
0
7.5
Civil Litigation - Private
1062
1/2/06
8
8
6
7
7
9
0
7
0
5
0
5
0
0
7.5
Criminal Defense Lawyer
1074
1/1/06
4
2
2
3
4
0
2
8
0
3
0
4
4
0
2.8
category average
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-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
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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
Criminal Defense Lawyer
28729
1/2/18
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
25334
1/1/18
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
21444
1/2/14
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
19603
1/2/13
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
18557
1/2/12
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
13737
1/2/12
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
12234
1/2/11
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
11932
1/2/11
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
11906
1/2/11
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
8346
1/2/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Prosecutor
6279
1/1/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Govt.
5049
1/2/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
4854
1/2/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
3633
1/1/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
2268
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
1191
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
1055
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
1061
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
1062
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
1074
1/1/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
category average
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Non-lawyer Rating
(if applicable)
evaluator
ID
date
Rating
Other
9327
1/2/09
8
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. Frederic Block
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
28729
rating:
1.4
Not a bad person, per se, but needs to retire. Let's his personal likes and dislikes override the facts and the law. Unfortunately, it appears that his mind is going.
1/2/18, 2:54 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
25334
rating:
0
Judge Block's conduct disrespects litigants and the Court. He will read and send text messages, take calls and make faces while presiding over a trial. If he does not like a case, he will perform the cross examinations himself. He will berate attorneys, especially newer attorneys, in a manner ill-befitting a Federal Courtroom (often in the presence of the jury). Groveling and flattery are required. It is truly well past the time for this man to retire.
1/1/18, 4:06 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
21444
rating:
2
Judge Block just released what may be the most stupefying and grotesque appellate opinion one will ever come across, while sitting by designation on the Ninth Circuit. The issue on appeal was whether the district court abused its discretion in not giving the State of California defendants the opportunity to develop an issue during discovery that they neglectfully didn't develop when they had the opportunity to do so. Judge Block turned that issue into a de novo review of the underlying question that the State wanted to conduct discovery on, decided that he could address the underlying issue because the State of California (the party that would benefit from him doing so) said it was permissible, decided the issue in the first instance (on appeal!) even though neither party had developed it through discovery at the trial court level and the record was devoid of any real evidence on the matter, issued a ruling against the plaintiff on a political question that the statute of limitations ran out on forty years ago (if there ever was one), and created quite possibly the worst Indian law opinion to come out from a federal court in the past twenty years -- which is saying a lot, considering the current make-up of the Supreme Court. Everyone should take a look at the opinion in question before they have to appear before this guy. It's titled Big Lagoon Rancheria v. California, No. 10-17803 (9th Cir. Jan. 21, 2014). What the opinion tells me is that Judge Block either has a blatant disregard for precedent, rules of procedure, the fairness of proceedings, and the rights of litigants, or he has some very serious prejudices that he needs to deal with in a professional setting.
1/2/14, 8:18 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
19603
rating:
9
J. Block treats every one very well no matter how low the position of power that person is in -- one mark of a truly great man. I meet a lot of judges -- J. Block is the only one I really admire. I am baffled by any negative comments and feel they can't be accurate. Especially the one below--it simply seems mean spirited. I am reading J. Block's book now, and it's really humble and honest (not usual hallmarks of attorneys as well all know) and full of inspiration and guidance. --from the point of view of a young attorney.
1/2/13, 3:06 PM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
18557
rating:
0
Vain, impatient, lazy, intemperate, biased and arrogant. Never refers to precedent when deciding legal issues. Like a stuck clock, he'll be right from time to time by accident, but should retire so he'll have more time to write books about his great self.
1/2/12, 3:52 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
13737
rating:
1
The man is an embarassment to the bench. Ill-tempered, ill- mannered, he makes no secret of his abudant biases and ignores case law and precedent. A pompous, arrogrant 'judge' who does not give those in his rifle-sight a chance to even state their case.
1/2/12, 2:29 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
12234
rating:
9.9
I had the unique opportunity to participate in both Civil and Criminal cases before Judge Block, both as a attorney for a criminal defendant at trial and as the attorney for civil litigants over the years. Judge Block really immerses himself in the cases and uses all of his exceptional academic energy and vast experience to bring about a just result, which seems to be all he is interested in.
1/2/11, 7:14 PM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
11932
rating:
9.2
Great temperament. As I awaited my client's sentencing, we watched a parade of criminal violations of probation and other criminal matters in which he was unfailingly polite, fair and willing to accomodate all parties and see justice was served, yet protecting the public while limiting the needless suffering of others. He fortunately gave a non-guideline, non-custodial sentence to my 70 year old client who PG to a tax count and who has medical issues and other significant 3553(a) factors. A hefty fine was imposed but Justice was amply served by this Titan of the bench.
1/2/11, 4:05 PM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
11906
rating:
10
Amazing at his job. Looks beyond the nonsense.
1/2/11, 4:44 PM
Other
comment #:
9327
rating:
0
Saw Judge Block at the Cioffi/Tannin trial today, 10/16/09, Fri. He appeared fair to both sides and even tempered when handling issues brought by each side. The only negative comment: He should give up the gum chewing during the proceedings.
1/2/09, 12:02 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
8346
rating:
3.6
I tried a civil case before him several years ago. I found him below average in getting and applying the law of evidence. Overall, I would say he tried to be fair, but was not particularly insightful. Way too self-involved. One day we were prepared to break early and I told him I wanted to go to my son's high school graduation in the afternoon. He came back an hour late from lunch, causing me to miss part of the graduation.
1/2/09, 5:06 AM
Prosecutor
comment #:
6279
rating:
8.3
Reminds me of Jackie Mason. From 'egg foo yong' to 'this is an absurd prosecution' in McGriff, I really dig this guy.
1/1/08, 1:50 PM
Civil Litigation - Govt.
comment #:
5049
rating:
4.8
By far the worse judge I have appeared before.
1/2/07, 6:37 AM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
4854
rating:
1.8
A disaster. How he got on the federal bench is beyond me.
1/2/07, 6:00 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
3633
rating:
8
Has maintained his fair and and even stance after assuming senior status. Judge Block is always a good Judge when considering complex civil matters, although rarely one to make a radical decision. Predictable, yet very fair.
1/1/07, 4:13 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
2268
rating:
8
Practical, efficient, fair, even-tempered
1/2/06, 12:33 AM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
1191
rating:
6.5
doesn't want to waste time
1/2/06, 10:16 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
1055
rating:
6.3
1/2/06, 2:54 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
1061
rating:
7.5
Has a very good 'feel' and understanding of the job. A real pleasure to appear before.
1/2/06, 3:04 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
1062
rating:
7.5
Has a very good 'feel' and understanding of the job. A real pleasure to appear before.
1/2/06, 3:04 PM
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