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THE ROBING ROOM
where judges are judged
Hon. Debra Freeman
Magistrate judge
S.D.N.Y.
2nd Circuit
Average Rating:
7.4
-
18
rating(s)
rating submitted
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Ratings:
What others have rated
Hon. Debra Freeman
evaluator
ID
date
Temp* Sch* Indu* Comp* Punct* Ev-Cv* Ev-Cr* Flex Bail Crim Settle Trial Sent Coop Average
Civil Litigation - Private
31287
1/2/19
8
7
9
0
0
10
0
8
0
0
0
0
0
0
8.5
Civil Litigation - Private
24165
1/1/17
8
7
10
5
8
6
0
7
0
0
8
0
0
0
7.3
Criminal Defense Lawyer
22222
1/1/14
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
21807
1/2/14
10
0
10
0
10
10
0
0
0
0
10
0
0
0
10
Other
21507
1/2/14
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
20622
1/2/13
10
10
9
8
5
9
0
7
2
7
7
0
0
0
8.5
Criminal Defense Lawyer
19119
1/1/12
2
1
3
1
2
1
0
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
1.7
Criminal Defense Lawyer
13234
1/3/11
10
0
9
0
0
10
0
9
0
0
10
0
0
0
9.7
Criminal Defense Lawyer
8880
1/1/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
8828
1/3/09
5
4
5
5
8
2
0
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
4.8
Civil Litigation - Private
5598
1/2/08
10
0
10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
8
0
0
0
10
Criminal Defense Lawyer
5461
1/2/07
10
10
8
10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
9.5
Criminal Defense Lawyer
4677
1/2/07
10
8
5
0
8
0
8
7
6
0
0
0
0
0
7.8
Civil Litigation - Govt.
3281
1/2/06
10
6
7
0
0
0
0
10
0
0
0
0
0
0
7.7
Civil Litigation - Private
2010
1/2/06
5
5
7
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5.3
Civil Litigation - Private
1034
1/2/06
6
5
7
3
10
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5.7
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 ProÂGovernment,10=Strongly ProÂDefense)
General Inclination in Civil Rights Appeals (1=Strongly Pro-Defendant,10=Strongly ProÂPlaintiff)
General Inclination in Labor Law Appeals (1=Strongly ProÂEmployee,10=Strongly ProÂEmployer)
General Inclination in Immigration Appeals (1=Strongly ProÂImmigrant,10=Strongly ProÂGov.)
evaluator
ID
date
Fam Par Qu-Arg At-Arg Sch Cri Civ Lab Imm
Civil Litigation - Private
31287
1/2/19
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
24165
1/1/17
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
22222
1/1/14
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
21807
1/2/14
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Other
21507
1/2/14
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
20622
1/2/13
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
19119
1/1/12
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
13234
1/3/11
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
8880
1/1/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
8828
1/3/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
5598
1/2/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
5461
1/2/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
4677
1/2/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Govt.
3281
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
2010
1/2/06
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
1034
1/2/06
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
Civil Litigation - Private
32877
11/4/20
1
Other
9190
1/1/09
10
Litigant
8965
1/2/09
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. Debra Freeman
​
comment #:
32959
rating:
​
​
3/29/22, 12:10 PM
​
comment #:
32921
rating:
​
​
2/2/22, 9:33 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
32877
rating:
2.5
Not a thorough Judge and un careful. She is slow, disorganized and rules from the hip without case law. Very biased against Pro-Se litigants and will rule arbitrarily in favor of other other side if they have counsel (copying their papers, without even analyzing the law). Really not doing a proper neutral job or applying the law and should not be in the position to run/manage cases.
11/4/20, 11:38 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
31287
rating:
8.5
At first, I mistook her for being slow or lazy. In fact, she is thorough and detail oriented. She has a phenomenal memory, able to recall details from previous conferences even when counsel call her on the spur of the moment. She is a pleasure to work with. To bad she is not an Article III judge. She may be a bit slow to call BS on counsel, but when she does get there she acts.
1/2/19, 12:03 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
24165
rating:
7.3
Judge Freeman is definitely not averse to work. She has a pleasant disposition and is intelligent. But she was highly ineffective at the marathon settlement conference she conducted. Given to long speeches. Case settled in spite of her.
1/1/17, 3:51 PM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
22222
rating:
0
​
1/1/14, 12:24 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
21807
rating:
10
Great patience and perservence in reaching a settlement in a my personal injury case.
1/2/14, 12:26 AM
Other
comment #:
21507
rating:
0
I am very surprised that Judge Freeman signed off on a criminal arrest warrant (including a strip-search, cavity search, etc.) issued for a foreign diplomat, on extremely flimsy grounds. It was a blatantly malicious extortion effort by the Bureau of Diplomatic Services. I am disappointed by such a failure to exert judicial common sense, and now look at the mess created. It's sad.
1/2/14, 7:42 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
20622
rating:
8.5
Extraordinarily thoughtful and fair, Judge Freeman exemplifies the best of the Federal judiciary. Few judges are as patient with pro se litigants.
1/2/13, 6:07 PM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
19119
rating:
1.7
I don't know how Judge Freeman got on the bench. She's not very smart. But at least she's really slow.
1/1/12, 3:54 PM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
13234
rating:
9.7
Foremost among the other SDNY magistrates, Magistrate Freemen gives you her entire day, if need be, for settlement conferences and does her best, in an evenhanded way, to achieve a meeting of the minds
1/3/11, 1:03 AM
Other
comment #:
9190
rating:
0
I simply would like to award this judge with five stars for her haste to make proper judgment in her cases.
1/1/09, 11:31 PM
Litigant
comment #:
8965
rating:
0
She stated on the record that she was receiving too much paper but never issued a case management order. Stated that she had NOT read the filings. Her report and recomendation were entirely quoting opposition, never explaining how the other side was incorrect. quoted NON expert decelerations and opposing counsel. Ruled on summery judgement before a filing date and before reply papers were due. Was mean and insolent in court, cutting of a pro se litigant at every turn.
1/2/09, 10:56 PM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
8880
rating:
0
​
1/1/09, 11:02 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
8828
rating:
4.8
indecisive and quick to make comments without due consideration
1/3/09, 4:30 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
5598
rating:
10
Very impressive in conducting settlement discussions. Rational, compassionate, persuasive, and honest. Also does not seem averse to work.
1/2/08, 9:50 PM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
5461
rating:
9.5
​
1/2/07, 6:45 PM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
4677
rating:
7.8
Although she detained our client while duty magistrate, it was a close case. While she ultimately accepted the government's exaggerated proffers, we got some early discovery which may be useful in resolving the case. She appeared evenhanded, gave us all the time we needed and let us make our arguments, without restriction. Her temperament is beyond assail. Listening to her conduct pleas, she appeared thorough, courteous and professional and didn't need to hear herself pontificate like some others sitting up there. From other defense counsel in her Court, the word is that she's generally OK.
1/2/07, 10:25 PM
Civil Litigation - Govt.
comment #:
3281
rating:
7.7
​
1/2/06, 10:46 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
2010
rating:
5.3
Lacks assertiveness; doesn't seem to understand when she's being fed a load of crap.
1/2/06, 1:12 AM
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