"The Robing Room: CA State Judges

Hon. William F. Fahey	See Rating Details
Judge Superior Court
Los Angeles County	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 2.8 - 46 rating(s) Non-Attorney Average Rating: 1.0 - 6 rating(s)	Please send me alerts on this judge E-mail Address:

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Only items marked with (*) are averaged into the displayed overall rating.

General Rating Criteria

* 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)
* General Ability to Handle Pre-Trial Matters		(1=Not all Able, 10=Extremely Able)
* General Ability as a Trial Judge		(1=Not all Able, 10=Extremely Able)
Flexibility In Scheduling		(1=Completely Inflexible,10=Very Flexible)

Criminal Rating Criteria (if applicable)

* Evenhandedness in Criminal Litigation		(1=Demonstrates Bias,10=Entirely Evenhanded)
General Inclination Regarding Bail		(1=Pro-Defense,10=Pro-Government)
Involvement in Plea Discussions		(1=Not at all Involved, 10=Very Involved)
General Inclination in Criminal Cases Pretrial Stage		(1=Pro-prosecution,10=Pro-defense)
General Inclination in Criminal Cases Trial Stage		(1=Pro-prosecution,10=Pro-defense)
General Inclination in Criminal Cases Sentencing Stage		(1=Pro-prosecution,10=Pro-defense)

Civil Rating Criteria (if applicable)

* Evenhandedness in Civil Litigation		(1=Not at all Evenhanded,10=Entirely Evenhanded)
Involvement in Settlement Discussions		(1=Not at all Involved,10=Very Involved)
General Inclination		(1=Pro-defendant, 10=Pro-plaintiff)

Comments

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What others have said about Hon. William F. Fahey

Comments

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA54751
Rating:1.3

Comments:
Lacks the dignity and decorum of his peers. He’s not a pleasant individual. I had clients who could not appear because of health issues. He would not accept the representation without x-rays, medical reports, doctors testimony, etc.

Other

Comment #: CA49162
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge should be removed or retire. He is a USC alumni and hears cases involving USC to protect his alameda and abandons his responsibility to uphold the law. With all USC judges investors can injure society all they want.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA48565
Rating:2.3

Comments:
Judge Fahey never passes up an opportunity to make a lawyer's life difficult. He has no appreciation for the practice of law.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA45180
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Judge William F. Fahey should be impeached because he is biased, prejudice, unfair, unreasonable, irresponsible, and makes decisions based solely on his enormous undeserved ego instead of based on laws, facts, and reason.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA41891
Rating:1.0

Comments:
No judge in Los Angeles County has more affidavits of prejudice filed against him.
Even though he, therefore, has a smaller workload than the other judges, he is also at the top of the list of most reversed judges.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA41860
Rating:1.0

Comments:
The worst judge in Los Angeles County. He is a lousy judge for many reasons, not the least of which is fundamental dishonesty.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA41574
Rating:7.0

Comments:
Pre-trial experience with this judge was all positive. Courteous, read the papers, ruling affirmed.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA41111
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Extremely difficult judge to work with. I would ding immediately if I were to have another case with him.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA40013
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I can’t imagine why he didn’t get elected to Congress.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA39721
Rating:1.0

Comments:
In my experience, Judge Fahey has lied about me, personally, in multiple court orders. He has made false representations about the contents of his own file, and has used the same as the basis of adjudication. He does not let the law get in the way of his predetermined outcome. He is unfit for the bench.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA39301
Rating:3.0

Comments:
Extremely rude and condescending to all counsel. After he forced a settlement, he then berated the parties for not including a 664.6 provision that would have allowed him to retain jurisdiction. No Your Honor, the reason we settled was so that you would no longer have jurisdiction over the case.

I suspect everyone papers him because he seems to have a wide open docket.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA38991
Rating:1.5

Comments:
Horrible Judge living in the 18th century. He requests filings to be delivered to his courtroom and then claims they are not delivered. Subsequently either does not consider the filings or moves the date of the hearing despite having evidence to the contrary related to the delivery of the filings. He has an inability to use his computer to look up filings and is inept with understanding issues as a judge.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA38496
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This failed Republican congressional candidate has literally become "The Potato Judge" from the Conan O'Brien show. Look it up.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA38481
Rating:2.0

Comments:
Quite easily one of the most biased judges in LA County. He does not care about the law, the facts, or the evidence when the issue is one on which he has strong personal opinions. He grandstands frequently but also is frequently late taking the bench, issues nonsensical decisions, and then has the gall to lecture attorneys about the quality of their pleadings, will refuse to continue dates despite clear showings of good cause, and the like. In short, he's a biased dolt who has no place on the bench.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA38268
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Heavy-handed while being completely uncivil. Paper him. Now.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA36684
Rating:9.8

Comments:
Thorough and very intelligent. I'm guessing all the bad reviews are from salty people who lost on a ruling.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA35423
Rating:1.3

Comments:
If he was just awful - that would be reason enough to ding him. But he mixes in an element of meanness on top of not being very bright.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA32606
Rating:2.1

Comments:
Absolutely horrible judge. Should retire NOW.

170.6 him forever.

Doesn’t know basic law.

Makes snap judgments on motions

NO SENSE OF FAIRNESS !!!!!

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA32386
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This is one of the most unprofessional judges I have encountered on the bench for many years. He is not punctual, fails to move his calendar, and is extremely rude to counsel. This is a dictator that should not be on the bench.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA31338
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Fahey only follows the law when it suits his purposes. I have witnessed him violate his oath by intentionally not following the law on multiple ocassions. So, as you can probably tell, I agree with all those who opine he should be removed from the bench.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA31261
Rating:1.0

Comments:
A horrible judge. Believe he has long been the most affidavited judge in the Los Angeles Superior Court. If the Judicial Committee had any real authority, he would have been removed from the bench long ago.

Litigant

Comment #: CA28329
Rating:2.0

Comments:
Judge Fahey is NOT ignorant, nor is he unintelligent. He is arrogant and vindictive, however, and does what he wants while making it seem that he is respecting the rights of the parties and their lawyers. He called me a liar when I told him the ruling of another judge; I then showed him the certified transcript to bear out my statement, and he then accused me laying in wait to spring it on him. He stopped me from arguing against a cause of action, saying it was not in issue, and then he turned around and ruled against me on that very cause of action, ensuring that I would have no record for reversal. He is calculating and disingenuous and a master of abuse of power.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA20828
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Pro gov institutions- she’s awful- horrific- a nightmare- a horrible human being.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA19309
Rating:3.7

Comments:
He knows what he wants to do, evidence and the law be damned.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA18768
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I have had matters before him in the past and never was moved to comment. This time I heard him be untruthful, and candor is the basis of my practice. Therefore he cannot be trusted and I will never have him as a jurist again. Judge Fahey has become an abomination in the annals of jurists I have had over many years. What a shameful seat he takes. He cannot be trusted. I don't know who he has encouraged or enticed to write pleasant and positive reviews about him, but a liar is a liar. Arbitrary, vindictive and a liar. What could be worse?

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA15969
Rating:5.0

Comments:
I have never been compelled to write a review before, but I just finished a case with Judge Fahey and hope some people look this up before their 170.6 time expires. He has become an auto-ding for us now, due to his incredibly inflexible scheduling procedures and trial setting conferences. He nearly blew up an extremely delicate complex matter that the parties and attorneys had to bend over backwards to settle because he thinks extensions are never warranted and he can put pressure to settle. Sometimes it's the opposite, but he paints it all with the same brush. I'll never trust him as a judge on one of my cases again.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA12432
Rating:6.5

Comments:
I had a bench trial before him and won for the plaintiff. But, it wasn't a walk in the park. He is a strict constructionist of evidentiary issues and rigorous proponent of procedural issues. He tries to do the right thing by the parties and does not interfere with the attorneys' right to try their case to the best of their ability. In post-trial motions, he acknowledged an error with the damages calculation and reduced them but took the discretion to use the higher number to our benefit. Fair, tough judge.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA12249
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Judge Fahey is impressive, even though I had messed up, he followed the law and did his job. His order was just and it is clear he has years of experience in handling cases and attorneys.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA11741
Rating:2.1

Comments:
This judge is SUCH an embarrassment to all the good judges in LA Superior. He is reversed a LOT by the 2nd DCA. He is a "standing" 170.6 in our office. He even denied one of my 170.6 requests and I had to have THAT ruling reversed by the 2nd DCA. No way he can go to private judging b/c he is so loathed.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA10629
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge William F. Fahey is what you'd expect from a Los Angeles area lower court schmuck judge and more. He's a C student prick that cannot get past his own ideology and personal reactions. He has no intellect and seems miserable. Sad this prick is involved in the lives of others

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA9782
Rating:1.9

Comments:
Does not know the law, does not understand complex litigation, is very slow to issue rulings on matters taken under submission.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA9683
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Judge William Fahey is flawed in many ways. He is lazy, unengaged and highly biased. He reflects everything wrong with the system and judges like him have left me with little faith that matters of law can be resolved fairly.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA9506
Rating:5.7

Comments:
He carries himself as an authority figure and is deeply entrenched in the Central District. He will keep you on your toes at all times. You're not going to get anywhere by 'challenging' him in open court, he'll respond by using all the tools at his disposal to oppose you. You just have to deal with that if don't 170.6 him. Personally, I don't 170.6 him because there are obviously far worse courtrooms you can be assigned to Downtown. He and his courtroom are not one of them.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA9502
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This disgusting excuse of a .person called me a liar on the record. I am a great lawyer and honorable person. I was horrified and angered. Totally unreal. He was rude to all participants and refused to consider evidence that was admissible. Terribe judge with a white chip on his shoulder.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA8907
Rating:3.4

Comments:
Did not understand basic statutory authority. No desire to understand the law or listen to counsel when trying to educate him. File 170.6 immediately if assigned to Judge Fahey.

Litigant

Comment #: CA7941
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Fahey is arrogant, vindictive & arbitrary. I knew within 5 minutes of our first hearing that he had already decided the outcome of my Complaint. He accepted the bank's allegations without demanding proof.

Needs to go back to law school. Perhaps he'll become a real judge.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA7884
Rating:4.5

Comments:
This judge has only one trick in his arsenal: set a short trial date to try to force the parties to settle. Also, his disorganization will wastes hours of your time and your client's money.

Litigant

Comment #: CA7658
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
My first appearance before Hon William F. Fahey resulted in his clear prejudice against pro per litigants and he suggested that the old adage that a person representing themselves in court has a fool for a client. If you are assigned this judge and you are a pro per litigant, I'd strongly encourage you to immediately file a peremptory challenge.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA7593
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
I had a case with him many years ago. I remember him to be both ignorant, lazy and arrogant. I often pass by him in the corridors and I feel disgust. What a horrible human being. Why cant' they just retire and go away.

Litigant

Comment #: CA6810
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Judge Fahey legislates from the bench. Displays a disdain of pro se litigants. Is rude, condescending and makes ruling not based upon statutes andcase law but upon his personal prejudices.

He made several prejudicial remarks in Court, insulted us. He dismissed our case w/ prejudice without explanation.

He should be removed from office immediately.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA6652
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Judge Fahey is a bigot, discriminatory, unreasonable, drunk with power, unfair, serves injustice, takes pleasure in mocking attorneys like me - a women in her sixties, who speaks with an accent, who is Jewish and overwaight. I filed a complaint about this judge who unfaily dismissed my case eliminating me from any remedy, took pleasure in doing so and is confident that he will go unpunished.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA6457
Rating:1.9

Comments:
Judge Fahey is a disgrace to the LA Superior Court. Frankly, I can't fathom why he remains on the bench since he seems to disdain everyone and everything around him. As typical in these situations his staff follows his cue and are equally nasty. He does not even pretend to be intellectual, fair or objective.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA5903
Rating:2.0

Comments:
Extremely bad. Does not know the law. Does not care to know the law. Refuses to acknowledge his own mistakes. Tries to bully attorneys, especially when he knows he is wrong.

He is in way over his head and has no business sitting as a judge. He has never outgrown being a federal prosecutor.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA5364
Rating:3.3

Comments:
Judge regards pro se plaintiffs with disdain. He didn't provide adequate time for oral argument. It was obvious by his line of questioning that he had only briefly read the pleadings.

He appeared not to be familiar with the California Homeowners Bill of Rights,
and recent case law that supported the homeowner's right to challenge the standing of a party's right to foreclose.2502

Litigant

Comment #: CA5363
Rating:2.0

Comments:
I sued the pretender lender in a foreclosure, alleging that the so-called beneficiary could not prove standing to foreclose. I had submitted copies of forged assignments of the DOT to the Court which were ignored.

Judge failed to read my pleadings and did not even look at the Exhibits. He made prejudicial remarks about my case - asking me if I thought it was right to be living in a $1M 'rent-free' for three years and if my goal in bringing my suit was to 'win a house for free'!!!!!

He dismissed my case with prejudice without any explanation as to how I had failed to state a cause of action!!!

He is a disgrace to the robes he wears.

Litigant

Comment #: CA5072
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge and his courtroom staff all act like they are doing the public a favor by being there doing their job poorly

Litigant

Comment #: CA4848
Rating:1.0

Comments:
He has a poor understanding of First Amendment rights. He tends to ignore statutes and case law in favor of personal opinion.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA2996
Rating:3.0

Comments:
I generally feel that judges in Los Angeles need to abandon the idea of trying a case in less than a year after filing in every case. I don't have any trial experience with Judge Fahey, but his pre-trial conduct leaves much to be desired. Personally, I, and many other judges for that matter, will allow at least one trial continuance no matter what. Judge Fahey will simply not allow trial continuances,no matter how diligent you've been. He does this to encourage settlement, which I'm sure works a lot of the time, but when it becomes clear that a case isn't going to settle, give counsel a break. It's just selfish to put such a huge burden on counsel (causing them to work nights and weekends, and neglect their other cases) just so you can potentially remove one case from your docket because you're banking on counsel being afraid to try the case.

I believe Judge Fahey either never practiced civil litigation, or he has forgotten how difficult and stressful it is to be a civil litigator. Just like the rest of the staff in LASC, if they have to choose between lifting their little finger to do something and helping counsel tremendously, or doing nothing and putting a horrendous burden on counsel, they will choose doing nothing every time.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA2976
Rating:1.0

Comments:
He is the most biased, terrible tyrant judge I have every seen. Avoid him like a plague. I can't believe he hasn't been taken off the bench because he is so biased to one side.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA2705
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This is the worst, most biased, individual I have ever tried a case before in over 30 years of practice. He does not understand the law or care what it says. He does not understand the evidence code. He denied me the right to cross-examine the other party. He decided the case in the first five minutes. He permitted the other side to resurrect causes of action they had voluntarily abandoned, and did not give my the opportunity to counter the "new" claims. I would never, under any circumstances, ever try another case in front of this judge.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA48
Rating:8.7

Comments:
I thought Judge Fahey was very evenhanded, industrious, and detail oriented. He showed no particular bias and seems to care about what he is doing.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA15
Rating:9.5

Comments:
Excellent trial judge. Moves cases well. Expects a lot from the lawyers but lets them try their cases.