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THE ROBING ROOM
where judges are judged
Hon. Sarah A. L. Merriam
Magistrate judge
D.Conn.
2nd Circuit
Average Rating:
5.7
-
3
rating(s)
rating submitted
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Ratings:
What others have rated
Hon. Sarah A. L. Merriam
evaluator
ID
date
Temp* Sch* Indu* Comp* Punct* Ev-Cv* Ev-Cr* Flex Bail Crim Settle Trial Sent Coop Average
Civil Litigation - Private
33091
1/2/26
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
33068
7/29/25
7
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
5
5
5
5
0
0
9.571428571428571
Civil Litigation - Private
25391
1/2/18
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
3
Civil Litigation - Private
24143
1/3/17
10
9
9
9
10
10
0
0
0
0
10
0
0
0
9.5
Criminal Defense Lawyer
24061
1/1/16
1
5
8
3
9
1
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
4.5
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
33091
1/2/26
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
33068
7/29/25
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
25391
1/2/18
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
24143
1/3/17
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
24061
1/1/16
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
category average
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-
-
-
-
-
-
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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. Sarah A. L. Merriam
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
33091
rating:
I have had settlement conferences with most of DConn’s USMJ and all have been polite and helpful. Judge Merriam was neither. She was rude to me, my client, opposing counsel, and his client. She would interrupt us and say things like “Well that’s not how it’s done with me” and “My courtroom, my rules.” Haughty. Abrupt. My conference with her was about 8 or10 years ago, but I’m posting this now (Jan 2026) because of recent press about her berating and belittling her clerks. Based on how she acted during my conference with her, I was not surprised to read these allegations.
1/2/26, 5:31 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
33068
rating:
9.571428571428571
Judge Merriam endeavors to be fair and is one of the hardest working judges in the bench. She is dedicated to the law and applying it even-handedly.
7/29/25, 12:05 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
25391
rating:
3
Mediated a case with her. Big mistake. She had no interest in trying to persuade the parties. She failed to convey an important term to the other side. She was impatient and defensive with counsel and the process. At one point she lost her temper and insulted both counsel. Not a competent mediator.
1/2/18, 4:22 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
24143
rating:
9.5
Outstanding addition to the Connecticut bench.
1/3/17, 1:51 AM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
24061
rating:
4.5
A stunningly confusing recent appointment. Terrible temperament, very combative, condescending. I've checked with four lawyers who have appeared before her and who knew her earlier in her carrier. Unanimity that she is imperious, ill tempered, arrogant and should never be reappointed or elevated. A terrible, disappointed appointment in 2015. Apparently sponsored by Judge Thompson, her mentor.
1/1/16, 8:30 PM
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