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THE ROBING ROOM
where judges are judged
Hon. Janis Graham Jack
District judge
S.D.Tex.
5th Circuit
Average Rating:
5.3
-
36
rating(s)
rating submitted
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Ratings:
What others have rated
Hon. Janis Graham Jack
evaluator
ID
date
Temp* Sch* Indu* Comp* Punct* Ev-Cv* Ev-Cr* Flex Bail Crim Settle Trial Sent Coop Average
Criminal Defense Lawyer
33052
4/4/25
0
0
9
0
0
1
0
0
1
7
0
1
0
0
5
Civil Litigation - Private
32967
6/17/22
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Other
32675
1/2/19
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
28301
1/1/18
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
10
1
10
9
0
1
Criminal Defense Lawyer
21679
1/2/14
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
21497
1/2/14
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
Civil Litigation - Private
21251
1/2/13
9
10
10
10
10
10
0
10
0
0
10
0
0
0
9.8
Other
20805
1/2/13
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
18847
1/2/12
1
2
2
2
1
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
1.5
Civil Litigation - Private
13538
1/2/12
4
7
4
2
3
1
0
1
0
1
1
10
0
0
3.5
Court Staff
13601
1/3/12
2
5
1
0
5
6
1
2
3
3
0
2
1
7
3.3
Civil Litigation - Private
8998
1/1/09
9
9
9
10
10
10
0
9
0
0
8
0
0
0
9.5
Criminal Defense Lawyer
8715
1/3/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
8267
1/2/09
10
10
10
10
9
10
10
10
0
0
0
0
3
0
9.9
Civil Litigation - Private
7842
1/2/09
9
10
9
10
8
9
10
7
0
0
2
0
2
5
9.3
Civil Litigation - Govt.
7868
1/2/09
10
10
10
10
9
10
10
8
5
5
3
7
2
5
9.9
Civil Litigation - Private
7898
1/2/09
10
10
10
10
10
10
8
10
0
0
2
0
0
0
9.7
Court Staff
6663
1/2/08
1
1
2
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1.3
Court Staff
6198
1/2/08
2
3
3
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2.5
Other
4997
1/1/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
category average
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
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
33052
4/4/25
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
32967
6/17/22
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Other
32675
1/2/19
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
28301
1/1/18
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
21679
1/2/14
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
21497
1/2/14
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
21251
1/2/13
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Other
20805
1/2/13
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
18847
1/2/12
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
13538
1/2/12
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Court Staff
13601
1/3/12
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
8998
1/1/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
8715
1/3/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
8267
1/2/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
7842
1/2/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Govt.
7868
1/2/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
7898
1/2/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Court Staff
6663
1/2/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Court Staff
6198
1/2/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Other
4997
1/1/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
category average
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Non-lawyer Rating
(if applicable)
evaluator
ID
date
Rating
Other
32885
8/22/21
1
Other
24402
1/2/17
1
Other
23204
1/2/16
1
Other
19799
1/2/13
10
Other
13268
1/1/11
1
Other
9915
1/1/10
2
Litigant
9011
1/1/09
1
Other
7495
1/2/08
8
Other
5220
1/1/07
8
Other
1921
1/2/06
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. Janis Graham Jack
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
33052
rating:
5
Probably the worst Judge I have ever been before in over 30 years of practice. Lazy, obnoxious, with little respect for due process of law. A good argument for impeachment of Article III federal judges.
4/4/25, 7:55 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
32967
rating:
I clerked for Judge Jack many years ago. It was the worst experience of my life. My original co-clerk was run out of the position in less than a month. She made his life miserable and then mine. She seemed to take pleasure in being mean. Her scheduling clerk was terrified of her, as were the staff attorneys. It was horrifying listening to her preside over cases - she treated the attorneys before her almost as bad as she treated us clerks. She is a petty, vindictive woman who seems to enjoy her position of power just for the sake of being able to wield it over others.
6/17/22, 5:59 PM
Other
comment #:
32885
rating:
1
Very temperamental , even after winning an appeal vs her judgment. I was brought back before her only to have her reword her judgment and give me the same sentence.
8/22/21, 10:12 AM
Other
comment #:
32675
rating:
0
She is my sister. I have known her over 68 years. She is self indulging and always looks out for her own interests. She is highly intelligent, yet uses that knowledge to gain her own personal goals.
1/2/19, 10:20 AM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
28301
rating:
1
Janis Jack is a very poor Judge. She will lose her temper with lawyers, just for them competently representing their clients. At times, she will speak like a street thug. She is lazy, and will dismiss a merited case, just so she has less cases and can go home to the East Coast, while she is supposed to be presiding in Texas. Generally, she will deny and dismiss every criminal defense motion, without reading it or considering it.
1/1/18, 7:06 PM
Other
comment #:
24402
rating:
0
Her staff is terrified of her, and for good reason. She is incredibly mean, impatient, and disrespectful. She expects you to read her mind and gives no guidance whatsoever. She has screwed up many a new law-school-graduate's life. And dont get me started qabout how she treats the attorneys who come before her.
1/2/17, 11:53 AM
Other
comment #:
23204
rating:
0
Even when she knew the jury wrongfully convicted someone, she refused to over turn the conviction. By doing this she ripped a young family apart and forced a child to be raised in a single family home. It is OK as long as the government is fulfilling their contract with the private industry prisons to keep their beds filled. It doesn't matter what happens to the innocent victims - like the children. Too bad she doesn't have a spine to stand up for what is right instead of what the powers that be want her to do. You should be a judge for the people and not a judge for the political party.
1/2/16, 3:25 AM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
21679
rating:
0
She does what is right in her view. She has no inhibition about ruling against powerful interests when she thinks them in the wrong. She is the best judge in the world to have if she agrees with you on what is right and wrong. She gets thing done. She is the worst judge to have if she disagrees. I found her sense of right and wrong mostly the same as mine although I found myself on the wrong side of her judgment a number of times. She has been a blessing to the cause of justice. Those who complain about her are generally those who think they should win based on their 'status' regardless of merits. Yes, she has a mouth, but ultimately she always acted reasonably. I remember once she chewed me out badly claiming I was sexist (She misinterpreted some language I used as sexist -- it really wasn't intended as that). I thought for sure I would lose. However, when she wrote her opinion on the motion for summary judgment, I won the motion. The point is that she may bark but she ultimately does what is right. I saw her do some really compassionate and wonderful things over the years.
1/2/14, 12:52 AM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
21497
rating:
2
This is the absolute worst judge I have ever been in front of. She is petty, vindictive and sociopathic. She has destroyed so many people's lives: defendants, lawyers, clerks and judges.
1/2/14, 7:30 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
21251
rating:
9.8
She is an excellent judge for complex civil cases. She has been a strong influence on using tech equipment in Federal courts.
1/2/13, 10:00 AM
Other
comment #:
20805
rating:
0
It is difficult to accurately convey how awful this judge is to her clerks and staff. I know for certain that she lost five clerks in the span of nine months (four resignations and one termination) and shows no sign of slowing down. Three of the five clerks had degrees from Ivy League law schools. What is, perhaps, most disturbing about Judge Jack's treatment of her clerks is the amount of collateral damage that she wreaks in their lives. People uproot their families, sell their homes and quit lucrative jobs to take clerkships with Judge Jack, only to be forced out months later. Though some of the criticism below is hyperbolic, much of it is accurate. A frightening woman. Anyone thinking of clerking for her should seriously reconsider.
1/2/13, 5:28 AM
Other
comment #:
19799
rating:
0
Excellent judge. Have observed in her court many times. Fair to all .
1/2/13, 12:22 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
18847
rating:
1.5
Without a doubt the worst federal judge around, perhaps in history. Mean, spiteful, hateful, biased. Has fired/destroyed literally dozens of her law clerks, and seems to enjoy it in a sick sociopathic way. On vacation most of the year also.
1/2/12, 12:57 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
13538
rating:
3.5
Did not have a chance to rate this judge on several issues because she simply did not give me the opportunity to present my case. She did dismiss it without cause, so I may be able to have another judge pick it up later if I can afford the action. It seemed clear to me; that (being a Clinton appointment), she would follow the party line and keep the big-government control over this sensitive family issue. She took no interest in whether this case had been being handled in a just matter and it was obvious from her comments that these decisions at lower levels which can cause so much harm to families not only to fathers, but kids that can just be used for money by mothers who do not care and never tell the children the truth about who the real fathers are.
1/2/12, 1:08 PM
Court Staff
comment #:
13601
rating:
3.3
Wonderful judge when she likes you and everything positive written to date. But only a fool could ignore the fact that she treats every interaction with others as a win/lose proposition. The ugly, vile, hateful, demeaning things she says to others below her status, or those who respectfully disagree is unprecedented in almost any other court settings. Her bias is evident on specific cases via the breaks she provides to certain classes, and the extra punishment handed out to those she dislikes. If you're a conservative white male, you'll be on the chopping block. Anyone who has spent time in her court (more than just a couple cases) knows this, but there's no one out there who can help her victims.
1/3/12, 1:48 AM
Other
comment #:
13268
rating:
0
Judge Jack is one of the pettiest, most vindictive, most incompetent judges in America. She runs her court like a personal fiefdom. If an attorney dares to question any of her outlandish, dictatorial behavior, she has no qualms about punishing the attorney's client with a sentence at the top of the guidelines. She will fine an attorney on the spot without the slightest pretense of due process for offending her sense of self-importance. Judge Jack has zero interest in following the law. Her jurisprudence is driven entirely by an all-consuming desire to lessen her workload. Any case that was removed from state court will be remanded, regardless of what the law says, so she doesn’t have to deal with it. The little time that she spends doing vaguely work-related matters is almost entirely consumed with her monomaniacal efforts to terrorize and humiliate the poor people who work at her courthouse. She turns employees into spies, forces them to rat on each other, and then seeks to have them fired when they stray from her iron-fisted rule. Judge Jack is an advertisement against life tenure. Perhaps worst of all, Judge Jack is astonishingly lazy. She spends the majority of the year in Maine, on a permanent vacation about as far from the district she is supposed to be serving within the continental United States as possible. Even within the context of this absurd insult to the taxpayer, she resents the little “work” that she is compelled to do on the taxpayer’s dime. She beams herself in from Maine for sentencings and phones herself in for conferences. She routinely appears on screen with a jumbo-sized McDonald’s cup next to her. For months she strong-armed criminal defense attorneys into consenting to have their clients sentenced by video-conference. The federal defender’s office eventually had enough and insisted that their clients receive the common decency of being sentenced to lengthy prison terms by a judge with the common courtesy to look them in the eye. Judge Jack is an embarrassment and her career is a stain on the Article III judiciary.
1/1/11, 3:28 PM
Other
comment #:
9915
rating:
0
predudicial,deferential,rude,abrupt and mean-spirited
1/1/10, 9:51 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
8998
rating:
9.5
Judge Jack ran a very efficient and fair civil jury trial. She let the attorneys conduct voir dire. She discussed everything with counsel and gave counsel input on such matters as the number of jurors, strikes, and time for opening and closing. She and her Clerk worked very hard on the charge. Punctual. Very smart. Has a scheduling order and a pretrial order that covered most everything. I observed Judge Jack being courteous and cordial to her staff and all counsel having business with the court. Judge Jack's staff is very helpful.
1/1/09, 1:05 PM
Litigant
comment #:
9011
rating:
0
Came into court with pretermined judgement. Mean, appeared to be in a bad mood Told defendant she was too educated to have been a victim of spousal abuse. Refused to accept defendants evidence even with supporting documentation from prosecutor
1/1/09, 6:26 PM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
8715
rating:
0
Well, having been in her court room more times than I care to admit, she can be quite mean and cruel to her own law clerks and court staff. I once witnessed her humiliate a probation officer officer who was only doing his job and THEY WORK FOR HER! Mean, spiteful woman.
1/3/09, 12:43 AM
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