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THE ROBING ROOM
where judges are judged
Hon. James V. Selna
District judge
C.D.Cal.
9th Circuit
Average Rating:
6.1
-
19
rating(s)
rating submitted
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Ratings:
What others have rated
Hon. James V. Selna
evaluator
ID
date
Temp* Sch* Indu* Comp* Punct* Ev-Cv* Ev-Cr* Flex Bail Crim Settle Trial Sent Coop Average
Civil Litigation - Private
25218
1/2/18
0
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Civil Litigation - Private
25092
1/2/17
9
6
9
10
10
10
0
8
0
0
1
0
0
0
9
Criminal Defense Lawyer
20774
1/1/13
8
0
0
0
10
0
8
0
0
5
0
0
5
0
8.7
Litigant
18083
1/2/12
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
12863
1/2/11
10
10
10
10
10
10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
10
Civil Litigation - Private
11657
1/1/10
8
8
8
8
9
7
0
6
0
0
0
0
0
0
8
Civil Litigation - Private
10168
1/1/10
1
1
1
1
3
1
0
2
0
0
1
0
0
0
1.3
Civil Litigation - Private
10119
1/3/10
10
8
8
7
8
3
0
8
0
0
4
0
0
0
7.3
Criminal Defense Lawyer
9709
1/2/10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
9626
1/1/09
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Other
6259
1/1/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
5906
1/2/08
9
10
10
10
10
10
0
10
0
0
5
0
0
0
8.4
Civil Litigation - Private
5013
1/2/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
4588
1/2/07
8
8
8
8
8
8
0
7
0
0
3
0
0
0
8
Criminal Defense Lawyer
4335
1/1/07
10
2
2
0
4
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4.4
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
Civil Litigation - Private
25218
1/2/18
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
25092
1/2/17
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
20774
1/1/13
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Litigant
18083
1/2/12
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
12863
1/2/11
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
11657
1/1/10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
10168
1/1/10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
10119
1/3/10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
9709
1/2/10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
9626
1/1/09
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Other
6259
1/1/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
5906
1/2/08
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
5013
1/2/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Civil Litigation - Private
4588
1/2/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Criminal Defense Lawyer
4335
1/1/07
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
category average
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Non-lawyer Rating
(if applicable)
evaluator
ID
date
Rating
Other
12611
1/1/11
9
Other
10012
1/2/10
1
Other
8607
1/1/09
1
Other
4554
1/1/07
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. James V. Selna
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
25218
rating:
1
Had no interest in applying the law correctly or hearing contrary arguments once his mind was made up. He saw an easy opportunity to lighten his docket and took it. Lazy, intellectually dishonest, and does not follow the law.
1/2/18, 3:54 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
25092
rating:
9
We were a little surprised that a former biglaw partner and Bush appointee would be so even-handed in our plaintiff-side case. He seemed to simply apply the precedent as written, and is very knowledgeable about how trials are to be conducted.
1/2/17, 10:49 PM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
20774
rating:
8.7
Judge Selna was very fair with my client. He's certainly not pro-defense, but I didn't find him to be pro-government either. He was... well, judicious. Go figure! He actually read and considered my sentencing memorandum, the sentence was quite fair and well-reasoned. He was professional and his judicial temperament was just fine. No complaints.
1/1/13, 11:26 PM
Litigant
comment #:
18083
rating:
0
On Ocober 2, 2006 had more than a year's worth of calendar work listed. I believe this was a sanction for dismissing civil complaints.
1/2/12, 4:56 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
12863
rating:
10
I found Judge Selna to be quite pleasant in his demeanor, industrious, timely in the issuance of tentative rulings well in advance of the hearings and always very clear and correct in his rulings. A very fine judge and a pleasure to be in his courtroom!
1/2/11, 3:29 AM
Other
comment #:
12611
rating:
0
Really nice person and an excellent judge. Doesn't seem to have the 'God complex.'
1/1/11, 8:32 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
11657
rating:
8
A fine judge. Hardly in the pocket of big business. Often gets it right, in terms of appellate review, compared to other judges.
1/1/10, 11:52 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
10168
rating:
1.3
James V. Selna should not be a presiding judge in a game of 'duck duck goose'. That is of course unless one of the players has deep pockets.
1/1/10, 9:19 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
10119
rating:
7.3
Runs his court and conducts himself in a way that appears fair in decisions leading up to trial. However, flip flops on his own decisions and biased on the side of 'Big Business' in decisions where it really counts.
1/3/10, 2:17 AM
Other
comment #:
10012
rating:
0
Small minded judge; hates to make decisions; does not follow the law
1/2/10, 1:24 AM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
9709
rating:
0
1/2/10, 10:01 AM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
9626
rating:
1
this kind of person should never even be let near a bench - always sides with whatever side has more money - be it bank or large corporation and he has no compassion whatsoever
1/1/09, 8:48 PM
Other
comment #:
8607
rating:
0
Selna's recent ruling against free speech using the Lemon Test is unbelievably stupid. He claims he cannot find a 'secular purpose' in the declaration that creationism is 'superstitious nonsense.' Then he's a complete nitwit! The state has a more than compelling secular interest in standing against pseudoscience!
1/1/09, 9:13 PM
Other
comment #:
6259
rating:
0
When he threw out the case that Shell Oil Company dealers had against Shell Oil, he pretty much jumped in bed with Big Oil, and showed he is more focused on his future in a political arena owned by big money interests. Shell dealers have been run out of business, and many ruined financially, by their parent oil company, and he is helping by throwing the case out. He should be ashamed. Just my opinion.
1/1/08, 3:00 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
5906
rating:
8.4
Judge Selna is hard-working, smart, and seemed very fair in the consumer-related cases I brought before him. He didn't give me everything I wanted, but he diligently strived to reach the legally correct and fair result. In pre-trial matters, he often appears stern and formal, but he becomes slightly more casual with the parties when they are in trial with him.
1/2/08, 2:08 PM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
5013
rating:
0
Judge Selna is intelligent, industrious, and not, as some believe, pro-government or small-minded. Actually, he is very reserved, polite, and almost always gets it right. He was a real lawyer, and he's a real judge. He is accommodating to lawyers while capable of being firm when that's necessary. His apparently humorless demeanor belies a wry sense of humor. He's quite a nice man.
1/2/07, 1:29 AM
Civil Litigation - Private
comment #:
4588
rating:
8
1/2/07, 10:48 AM
Other
comment #:
4554
rating:
0
Rubber stamp for the government. Has myopic vision of what a federal judge should be and how one should respond to public pressure. Small-minded, to put it nicely.
1/1/07, 9:33 PM
Criminal Defense Lawyer
comment #:
4335
rating:
4.4
Bush appointee. Friendly, not particularly scholarly. Appears not to fully grasp issues and favors government defendants.
1/1/07, 2:32 PM
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