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THE ROBING ROOM
where judges are judged
Hon. David H. Coar
District judge
N.D.Ill.
7th Circuit
Average Rating:
8.8
-
13
rating(s)
rating submitted
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Ratings:
What others have rated
Hon. David H. Coar
evaluator
ID
date
Temp* Sch* Indu* Comp* Punct* Ev-Cv* Ev-Cr* Flex Bail Crim Settle Trial Sent Coop Average
Litigant
33047
2/14/25
1
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
1
1
0
0
1
Litigant
33016
4/12/24
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Civil Litigation - Private
32992
6/5/23
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
Criminal Defense Lawyer
32808
9/29/19
1
1
1
1
1
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.9
Criminal Defense Lawyer
12299
1/2/11
8
10
10
10
3
10
10
8
0
0
6
0
0
0
8.7
Civil Litigation - Private
11810
1/2/10
7
10
10
10
10
10
0
1
0
0
5
0
0
0
9.5
Civil Litigation - Private
11783
1/1/10
6
9
8
10
5
10
10
7
5
5
5
0
0
0
8.3
Civil Litigation - Private
10205
1/2/10
1
10
10
10
10
10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
8.5
Civil Litigation - Private
6822
1/2/08
5
8
8
10
10
10
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
8.5
Civil Litigation - Private
6482
1/2/08
5
10
10
10
10
10
0
3
0
0
1
0
0
0
9.2
Criminal Defense Lawyer
2919
1/1/06
9
9
9
10
10
9
10
8
5
5
5
5
5
5
9.4
Criminal Defense Lawyer
2641
1/1/06
2
10
7
10
10
10
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
8.2
Civil Litigation - Private
2240
1/2/06
8
10
7
10
10
10
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
9.2
category average
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-
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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
Litigant
33047
2/14/25
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Litigant
33016
4/12/24
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
32992
6/5/23
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
32808
9/29/19
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
12299
1/2/11
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
11810
1/2/10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
11783
1/1/10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
10205
1/2/10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
6822
1/2/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
6482
1/2/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
2919
1/1/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
2641
1/1/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
2240
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
category average
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Non-lawyer Rating
(if applicable)
evaluator
ID
date
Rating
Other
12831
1/1/11
1
Other
4464
1/2/07
1
Other
3838
1/2/07
2
Other
3358
1/2/06
3
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. David H. Coar
Litigant
comment #:
33047
rating:
1
This is the worst possible excuse for a judge to could ask for
A child like attention span te ability to do NOThiNG take months to pretend to rule and to be paid thousands and thousands of dollars wen on fact he’s not worth minimum wage what a liar what a con what a joke shame on the United States legal system and its scam like retired inept jusge David’s coat
2/14/25, 7:49 PM
Litigant
comment #:
33016
rating:
1
4/12/24, 8:34 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
32992
rating:
1
6/5/23, 3:27 PM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
32808
rating:
0.9
This is judge is the exact reason the legal system fails
9/29/19, 6:01 PM
Other
comment #:
12831
rating:
0
The Department of Justice needs to investigate this Judge as soon as possible he is a judge only to Violate Rights of thoese who come before him
1/1/11, 12:17 PM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
12299
rating:
8.7
One of the best on the bench. If you play by the rules of his court room, you are golden. Cross him and you are toast. Very bright, very capable. We'll miss him.
1/2/11, 3:46 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
11810
rating:
9.5
Judge Coar is completely inflexible concerning scheduling and can be short-tempered. However, he is one of the brightest and most diligent district judges in the United States. It was an honor and privilege to appear before him and to try a case in his courtroom before his retirement. He is irreplaceable.
1/2/10, 3:21 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
11783
rating:
8.3
One of the best. If you are wrong or act improperly, Coar will come down hard on you. If you are on the right side of things and follow the rules, you will be treated very, very well. I wish Judge Coar all the best in his retirement. The NDILL bar will miss him.
1/1/10, 4:32 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
10205
rating:
8.5
DHC was the man! Old school, and no nonsense. But alas, Elvis assumed Senior Status last year and is rumored to be retiring altogether in 2010. Never a badder, harder case has ever roamed the halls of that building. But most lawyers (the ones with manageable egos and an appreciation for the practice) will miss him. Was he tough? Hell yes! But man, if you and your opposing counsel were professionals and prepared -- this was the guy you wanted, hands down. Oh yeah, this guy will yank jury verdicts -- he's done it more than once.
1/2/10, 3:17 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
6822
rating:
8.5
He's the judge that you want if you need a smart judge, but it comes with a price. He warns people at the very start of the case that he will give you just about any schedule that you want, but once the schedule is set, nothing, not even an admonition from God above, will change that schedule. The only exception to that rule is when the court has not ruled on a pending motion for summary judgment, provided the motion was timely filed. If no ruling has been given, then the judge will vacate all trial-related dates, including PTO filing and pre-trial conference dates. The last thing you want to do is bring discovery fights to him; neither side will like what he does.
1/2/08, 4:25 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
6482
rating:
9.2
Judge Coar is very bright, very hardworking and just about the hardest case in that courthouse. He will warn parties that he will give them any reasonable schedule that they request, but will almost never grant extensions or modifications of a schedule once it is set unless you, a family member or a material witness in the case are dead, dying or in the hospital and completely incapacitated. No, that was not intended nor should be construed as a joke. That's just how serious this guy is. He gets the law right 99% of the time and does not tolerate stupid lawyer games. Off the bench, he is an incredibly decent guy and will often engage counsel in chit-chat about anything other than the law.
1/2/08, 9:27 AM
Other
comment #:
4464
rating:
0
'Smart'? You must be joking. Coar yells at parties during motion practice because he doesn't understand what's going on. I once saw him shout at a party for something that was his own fault. The only way to prevent him from being abusive is to start explaining what's going on right from the introductions. He's routinely late, and routinely takes forever to resolve motions. A poor judge.
1/2/07, 5:16 PM
Other
comment #:
3838
rating:
0
WHO EVER POSTED THIS WEB'THANK YOU' CHECK Michael L. Cox v. The HomeDepot U.S.A. Inc Judge Coar's desicion and know that Justice is hiding behind the bench Forward information to Justice Dept Civil Rights Divison.
1/2/07, 6:00 AM
Other
comment #:
3358
rating:
0
Judge Coar is a hypocrite. For example: Where it concerns corruption among outsiders, he takes the following position: 'The citizens of Chicago have to demand that it stop. They have to stop shrugging their shoulders and saying, `Well, it's just Chicago.' There has to be a sense of outrage.' --U.S. District Judge David H. Coar, on City Hall corruption. On the other hand, where it concerns corruption among his colleagues, he takes a protective, retaliatory position: See 06-2294, Kathrein v. McGrath (7th Cir.) [Poster's Name Deleted]
1/2/06, 3:14 PM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
2919
rating:
9.4
A class act and a great jurist.
1/1/06, 6:40 PM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
2641
rating:
8.2
Do not be fooled by his absolutely harsh and abusive demeanor, he will be absolutely fair in resolution of a case on the merit. He is one of the smartest judges on the bench. But he is also draconian in his schedule. NO EXTENSIONS EVER- really I mean it. So be prepared to rock on your case fast or die.
1/1/06, 7:10 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
2240
rating:
9.2
'Completely inflexible in scheduling' does not begin to describe how unforgiving he is once he sets his dates, and he will freely admit it. Nonetheless, he is a solid judge and smart. I would gladly take him over most of his colleagues.
1/2/06, 3:58 AM
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