"The Robing Room: CA State Judges

Hon. Stephanie George	See Rating Details
Judge Superior Court
Orange County	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 2.2 - 14 rating(s) Non-Attorney Average Rating: 1.0 - 5 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. Stephanie George

Comments

Other

Comment #: CA53343
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Extremely racist, rude, and disrespectful. Expressed massive stereotypes upon POC .

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA49574
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Trust other negative comments - horrible judge. So glad she is gone!

Other

Comment #: CA49421
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Judge George was a great Judge..I was so grateful that she called in the head of DA office after lunch on my case. She was on my side about all mistakes by court error that effected my case in a negative way. Anyhow How can I see hear of get paperwork involving my case....I need her option of facts
Laura Martin
949-619-1411

Thank you

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA44548
Rating:1.7

Comments:
Just had a hearing with her and can't believe the lack of knowledge of this judge in civil matters...She started late (remotely) and put us in breakout rooms until she took the bench which was even later...and we had no clue what was going on while waiting in the room. Then the fact that with 27 cases on the morning docket, she spent FOREVER dealing with just one case after spending ALMOST forever on a priority request case. I got through, but the rest of the parties I bet will have to come back after lunch. AND she was wrong on her interpretation of the law applicable to that one case. She made that party jump through some hoops they should not have had to procedurally...because she clearly didn't understand the law. She raised her voice repeatedly at another party, one of whom had a hard time with his English, and kept stepping on him. He was wrong but she was insolent (very good word to describe her) such that if I ever get assigned to her again, I will NEVER accept the assignment.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA41719
Rating:1.3

Comments:
She is the worst judge in Orange County bar none. She is constantly absent or late to court, and openly admits that she does not read the documents, or understand basic civil procedure. She is unqualified to be on the bench. I am surprised she has not been removed, or at least reassigned...and we won our case in her courtroom. Peremptory challenge her!

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA41694
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Was the previous review written by the judge herself? Let's take a poll.

Other

Comment #: CA41418
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
I had the honor and privilege to have the Hon. Stephanie George as the judge in my case.
The minute she walked in the room, she brought a certain aura that cut the tenth on in the room. She listened and spoke very kind and explained the court room language so simply. I was so nervous representing myself, and I didn’t want to make any mistakes. There was an assertive grace about how she controlled the room, professional yet down to earth. She was also fair. If I could leave stars I would leave her 5 stars!! Thank you Stephanie George..
You rock !!

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA40328
Rating:1.3

Comments:
Where to begin. Now, I won this particular motion, and I will admit she was completely wrong. On so many levels. She took the bench 2 hours late for her law and motion calendar. TWO HOURS. No explanation. Then, she eats lunch throughout the entire calendar on camera. But these are petty complaints. The real incompetence came out during oral argument. She completely ignored all the law for each preceding hearing. Black letter law. Basic principles of civil law and procedure, she through out the window and said, "you guys know I don't know civil law." It was like an episode of punked, like they took some lady off the street and said here go play judge. The ripple effect of her incompetence cannot be overstated. I feel so sorry for those criminal defendants that had the bad luck to get sentenced by this clown. She should be immediately removed from the bench. Sure there are judges with bad temperaments like Hunt or Glass, but they are objectively smart on aspects of the law and try to get to the truth and apply the law (sometimes). Judge George operates her court room like she's judging an episode of American Idol. She just sits there and makes up law and facts, argues when you try and explain the law, then adopts her tentative. I guess Orange County gets what it deserves. What an embarrassment.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA35863
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Should not be on bench. Openly admitted in court did not know rules or what she was doing. She abandons logic and reason the same way she abandons her children. How does someone like this get on the bench? Politics.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA33990
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Doesn't want to take the bench; won't read the papers, treats civil cases like criminal cases - willy nilly, rules and law don't really apply. Research attorney putative to challenge to his error in law. Shocking really- sad for our clients that she has taken over Dept. C24 and nobody knew we could not rely on her to be prepared or to follow the law - so we didn't 170.6 her. Lesson learned.

Other

Comment #: CA28174
Rating:1.0

Comments:
this lady needs to be removed as a judge.

Other

Comment #: CA28173
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge should not be allowed on the bench. She is rude, arrogant and has no business in this position. She does not allow the DA to talk, and advised a public defender to not talk to his client. She recessed for lunch and did not return for 3 hours leaving the court staff sitting for 2 hours. One case she would not allow the DA to explain that the defendant complied with the 1st court order and upon return with proof the court then added another court order and the second time returning with proof the court made a third order. The defendant returned for the 4th time with proving compliance and Judge George wanted to give the defendant 10 days in jail. All 3 court orders were between the DA and the defendant as the defendant did not have any legal representation. The DA then asked the defendant if he wanted a public defender. When the public defender came in, he asked for a continuance in another court where Judge George said...this is a waste of tax dollars....after she took a 3 hour lunch making the defendant wait for her return. The motion was ordered, the DA took the defendant to another courtroom and within 5 minutes a continuance was granted and the defendant was not ordered to any jail time as he had complied with every order. Judge George demonstrated an abuse of authority as the defendant's rights are clearly violated. You cannot write a court order and when the defendant complies add on to the order and when the defendant complies add on more. Who thinks this is legal as this judge thinks she is above the law as there is no consequence for her misconduct. Orange County, you need to take a good look at who you have voted for. She is going to cost you in law suits.

Court Staff

Comment #: CA25723
Rating:1.0

Comments:
How it is that this judge is still on the bench is a mystery worthy of a novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. After her 2016 arrest I thought that would be the end of her. Strings almost certainly had to have been pulled behind the scenes to make the mess go away; thus preventing real and authentic justice from being served.

Those occasions in which I had the opportunity to observe her at work at the W. Justice Center made me come to the conclusion that she is a very unkind and nasty person. These qualities stand out even in a place like Orange county; which is known for having a judicial culture that is both mean-spirited and hard nosed.

Her style on the bench is very contemptuous and denigrating of all; even her own staff.

On one occasion, there was an interpreter working in her court room on a case. This person was originally from a European country and she spoke English with an accent. While on the record, and from the bench, Judge George thought it would be cute to mock this person by mimicking her, accent and all. To her face and in the presence of many people; both court staff as well as attorneys and people from the general public.

On another occasion, I was walking through the back halls and I happened to walk past the door to her chambers. It so happened that she was in chambers with some attorneys and her manner of speaking to them was very insolent, both in tone and language. These hapless men had no choice but to suck it up.

Seeing some of the other reviews on this page makes me see that it wasn't just me. There's a pattern here.

It'll be a great day when she's no longer on the bench just like it was when James Odriozola retired; another jerk whom I can't review now because his page has been taken down.

Civil Litigation - Govt.

Comment #: CA23185
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I have known Stephanie since 1994. We were in the Navy together at that time and she was a complete moron. The chain of command she was assigned to in Italy simply refused to have her come back. She was an embarrassment - made a fool of herself. She knows nothing about the law, never did, and is simply an opinionated bigot with no ability at all. She has opinions of course but nothing with which to back them up. Really one of the stupidest, most obnoxious, most worthless people I have ever known in my 35 years of legal practice.

Other

Comment #: CA14135
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
I agree with the poor comments and ratings. She shouldn't be a judge because she thinks she's above the law and ignores court orders from other jurisdictions.I can also attest to the fact that she is extremely verbally abusive and has endangered children's well being all along. She should have been nurturing my relationship with my daughter...instead she completely destroyed it with her bullying! That 3rd child she claims, belonged to me!

Other

Comment #: CA13537
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I despise Stephanie George. I truly believe that her arrest made her downgrade herself even further from a terrible judge to a total nightmare. Simply put, she’s just a b*tch who takes her anger out on the defendants who stand before her. She seems to get some sort of enjoyment out of putting people in jail, but I’m just waiting for the day when she gets her day in court and gets convicted for child endangerment and finds herself in jail among all the people that she heartlessly put behind bars. It would be interesting to watch her get a taste of her own medicine.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA11650
Rating:1.0

Comments:
She obviously has a lot of personal issues that seem to pervade into her job. She never lets you finish making the record, yells at you for even trying and has absolutely no patience or rationality. Very very sad. I hope she gets help someday soon.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA10594
Rating:9.2

Comments:
I like this judge. I admire her no-nonsense approach to criminal cases. In addition, I even admire the way she keeps the proceedings succinct by curtailing any rambling & incoherent attempts by some defendants and their attorneys to excuse their obvious lack of preparation. Admittedly, I was kind of taken aback when she started having defendants taken in to custody right there in the courtroom. But- I hardly see how she could be racist, bigoted or partial in any way, however, since I myself witnessed a prissy, WASP-sh and yuppie-eque young Newport Beach hussy being handcuffed in a DUI case for what I guess was failing to complete ANY of her sanctions or attend ANY classes within the time frame of about six months.
Luckily, my client had prepared numerous exhibits and letters of reference for support for his own case. There was some other person there for exactly the same thing as my client, and it came to light that this other person had been put on warrant status FORTY times since his conviction and was still there asking for special favors. Ridiculous. Even though this judge sends people to jail, sometimes they are being sent there only for an overnight stay, to teach them a lesson for wasting everyone's time. Even my client thought this made sense. I would recommend to any defendants in this courtroom, to 1. not expect any special favors, 2. stand at parade rest, and 3. to keep their mouth shut unless asked direct questions, to which they should respond with direct answers.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA10361
Rating:7.0

Comments:
I've been around for awhile and I know that both the prosecution and the defense attorneys feel the same way towards her. If you have good law and facts supporting your position she will listen to you.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA10260
Rating:1.0

Comments:
The chickens finally came home to roost on November 6, 2016, when Judge Stephanie George was ARRESTED and booked on suspicion of child endangerment after Orange County Sheriff's responded to a domestic disturbance report.

(Please remember that pending conviction criminal defendants are entitled to the presumption of innocence, at least inside the courtroomzß

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA10096
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge is simply terrible. She is reads your entire case out loud to the entire courtroom and tells you to shut up if you try and speak regardless of what you are trying to say. She is the only judge Ive seen act like she does and everyone in the courtroom was surprised. This judge needs to be replaced

Other

Comment #: CA9833
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
This woman has no clue about the real world or hardship. She is a bully, opinionated, and extremely racist. If your ethnicity is not caucasian, you are already guilty and "WILL" be taken into custody. I sat through her proceedings, listen to the cases, and some very similar in nature. But each ethnic person was denied to defend themselves, and were immediately taken into custody. She projects her own insecurities upon defendants, as well as her stereotypes. How and why OC would allow such an individual be a part of their system reflects the entire OC Courts position. As someone who has interviewed numerous individuals . OC Courts has the worst reputation among all the courts in S. CA,also inclusive with the Sheriff Dept. She is known as "Judge Hanger" this woman will be the reason behind a massive lawsuit towards the OC Courts. Trust me! If anyone has been wronged by this judge my advice is to immediataly take action, file a lawsuit.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA6970
Rating:2.3

Comments:
This woman is a conceited bully. Its a known fact by every attorney who appears in her court. As an attorney I have the ability to "paper" a judge, and be moved to another courtroom. I did that to this judge, who then ORDERED me into her chambers. I softly said, "Not without a court reporter" - causing her to SQUEAL, (and change her mind). She made me sit and wait for more than 5 HOURS... at which time she announced, "I am not accepting your challenge, I am, on MY OWN motion, sending your case to another department." This is NOT legal, to ignore my challenge... but as in all things - she does not give a hoot. SHE IS STEPHANIE GEORGE. WHO appoints these idiots? and WHY?

Other

Comment #: CA2767
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This defendant's arrest history was for a DUI as a 19 year old. Their second DUI was 6 years later for driving with a BAC level of .04%. Though well below the normal limit, this violated the zero tolerance policy attached to a DUI minor offernder. The defendant was ordered to serve 30 days. They served this time and were ordered to fines and alcohol classes. The classes lapsed and a warrant was issued. The defendant in question came to the court on their own free will to pay all fines and attempt to reinstate probation/classes.

Judge George gave the defendant NO opportunity to speak, belittled them, ordered them into custody, then gave 30 more days in jail. This is a non-violent offender, with only ONE legitimate DUI. This type of reckless behavior by a JUDGE is inexcusable. This defendant does not belong with the dregs of society, filling up our jails, costing tax payers money.

This type of event is scarring, does not solve any problems, and makes our society worse off.

She should be stripped of her ability to preside over a court of law, and even her license to practice law.

Other

Comment #: CA2456
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Angry and irrational. Difficult to understand her thinking. Purposely forces jail for a person who is willing and able to pay all fines, in order for him to lose his job, while allowing a drunk teenager driving 95 on I5 to run free.

Other

Comment #: CA2441
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
I see from the comment below that this woman is an angry lady yelling at everybody in court. Well I guess her apple son did not fall far from the tree. Her son has been bullying my son and other kids at his elementary middle school in Las Flores. To say that I am outraged that this woman has taught her son to act as she does to bully everyone is a mild understatement. William Kirkendale

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA504
Rating:1.3

Comments:
Another angry lady trying to make herself look good by yelling at everyone in the room. More pro-prosecution than others.