The Robing Room

Hon. Naomi Reice Buchwald	See Rating Details
District Judge	See Comments
S.D.N.Y.
Average Rating:3.5 - 31 rating(s)	Please send me alerts on this judge E-mail Address:

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*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=Chronic`y 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=Most Lenient,10=Most Harsh)
Typical Discount Off Guidelines for Cooperators:	(1=10%,10=100%)
Items marked with (*) are averaged into the displayed overall rating

Comments

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What others have said about Hon. Naomi Reice Buchwald

Comments

Probation or Pretrial Officer

Comment #: 33695
Rating:2.5

Comments:
This Judge is very pro alleged victim, is easily manipulated by victims and shows no respect for the defendant except attempted intimidating stares. She is way over the hill and should not be allowed to continue on the bench

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 29126
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
"Poor temperament" or "a disrespectful and bullying manner" or "Miserable temperament" are some of the things that other people have written. These are all true. It is a sad day for the federal judiciary when lawyers privately refer to her as "F*ckwald" because she is so nasty and mean from the bench that they feel justified in disrespecting her name. The federal bench will be better when she final retires.

She also doesn't read the briefs. This is well known. Her clerks read everything and then give her a summary. She does most decisions of instincts without having read anything or just does what her clerks recommended.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 26846
Rating:1.3

Comments:
Judge Buchwald is a political hack of a judge. She grossly mishandled a case in which I represented grievously injured NYC employees. She made it clear throughout the case that her only concern was to prevent the City from incurring ruinous liability. If I had known better at the time, I would have filed a complaint against her for judicial misconduct.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: 25213
Rating:4.0

Comments:
I tried a criminal case before Judge Buchwald. I found her rulings to be better on trial than pretrial, but still not great. She did leave me alone on cross for the most part, as well as on opening and closing. However, she ruled I opened the door to my client's criminal conviction during his testimony, and I believe she was wrong. Luckily it didn't affect the verdict. Her jury charge was good.

Litigant

Comment #: 23492
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald oversaw my case Kathy Knight-McConnell vs Mary Cummins. I reported McConnell to the SEC for securities fraud. In retaliation I was sued for defamation. I represented myself pro se.

Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald was just and fair. I was worried she might be biased because I lived in California and not New York like the Plaintiff and Judge. I won the case.

Other

Comment #: 21937
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Wall Street's Top Cop's harsh words about you were much to kind. I would have given you a minus one if that had been an option.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 21489
Rating:2.2

Comments:
I certainly agree with the comments about the anti-plaintiff bias, unprofessional behavior and gross incompetence. She has no right to be on the bench.

Other

Comment #: 21014
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I would like Judge Buchwald to take into consideration Alwar Pouryan's case. That man is innocent! Where is the justice? That man has served the U.S. government all his life, and and the only words we hear from that man are "God bless America." Is this how we treat our citizens? Reconsider his case!

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 20942
Rating:2.5

Comments:
Poor temperament. Dismisses legitimate, meticulously argued legal positions in a disrespectful and bullying manner. Her worst misbehavior (in terms of bullying and abuse of counsel), comes out in off-the-record telephone conferences. One of those judges who makes the practice of law absolutely miserable.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 19683
Rating:2.0

Comments:
Miserable temperament, intellectually dim and lazy, and completely in the pocket of defendants. It's astounding to think this person was selected to become a federal judge.

Other

Comment #: 13681
Rating:1.0

Comments:
After reading about and supporting the efforts of hundreds of thousands of organic farmers and their supporters try to put an end to the blatant and easily provable harassment and intimidation by Monsanto, with hundreds of cases that are very well documented, Judge Buchwald has decided to give Monsanto a pass and has committed a gross miscarraige of justice on the American people and has effectively guaranteed the continued degradation of the health and safety of the general public. [Redacted by Ed.] justice is officially dead in the United States.

Other

Comment #: 13675
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
I'm not a fan of this particular Judge, but the logic of the case and the lack of precedential influence of a ruling from the Percy Schmeizer case in Canada seems straightforward. We/You may have to wait until Monsanto actually sues (a) farmer(s) to get a day (or more) in court.

Is this similar to asking for an order of protection against a bully who has not yet hit you.

Please post the Percy Schmeizer case in Canada.

Please refrain (IMHO) from ad feminam attacks against the Judge. It is impolite and makes the attacker look like a kook.

Other

Comment #: 13673
Rating:1.0

Comments:
"U.S. District Court Judge Naomi Buchwald, for the Southern District of New York, threw out the case brought by the Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association (OSGATA) and dozens of other plaintiff growers and organizations, criticizing the groups for a "transparent effort to create a controversy where none exists."

The Public Patent Foundation (PUBPAT) filed the suit last March on behalf of more than 50 organizations challenging the agricultural giant's patents on its genetically modified seeds. The group wanted a ruling that would prohibit Monsanto from suing the farmers or dealers if their organic seed becomes contaminated with Monsanto's patented biotech seed germplasm.

But Judge Buchwald said Monsanto had not sued or even started the process of suing anyone of the plaintiffs or anyone in "similar stead."

And water is dry.

The Percy Schmeizer case in Canada. Monsanto sued him for patent infringement because their GMO pollen polluted his land - & Monsanto won. "

Apparently Ms. Buchwald is either ignorant, misinformed, or worse.

Other

Comment #: 13671
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
This is very disappointing. I am 79 years old and I continue to be astonished at what is happening in this country. Unfortunatly extremely unfit judges continue to serve. Just look at our so-called Supreme court. Venality, cupidity, dishonesty, stupidity rule the day. I mourn for the United States of America.

Other

Comment #: 13670
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
I have read the ruling of the Monsanto trial. It seems the plaintiff's attorneys should have been a little more thorough by possibly bringing some of the 144 farmers, or some of the over 700 known farmers that have been sued, or threatened by Monsanto into the list of plaintiffs. [Redacted]

Other

Comment #: 13577
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Clearly, this Judge has [sided with] Monsanto by dismissing the case brought by the Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association (OSGATA) and dozens of other plaintiff growers and organizations, criticizing the groups for a "transparent effort to create a controversy where none exists." Tell that to the 144 farmers who Monsanto has brought patent infringement cases against. "Monsanto has filed 144 patent infringement lawsuits against farmers between 1997 and April 2010, and won judgments against farmers they claimed made use of their seed without paying required royalties." [redacted by Ed.]

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 12720
Rating:1.0

Comments:
She is a utter and believes african american indigent plaintiffs should be shining her shoes and not filing lawsuits

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 12114
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Miserable disposition. Alerts defense attorneys during initial conferences of what she perceives to be flaws in a plaintiff's case.

Litigant

Comment #: 12084
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Judge Buchwald is very prejudice, bias, discriminatory Judge she has no repect for PRO SE and she allowed the attorneys not to present any discovery information she had special relationship with attorney's and she is just so dishonest about the case. She has many conversations with the attorneys without my consent simply unbelievable. ALSo Judge Buchwald and her follwers could careless about anyone's health or safety.

Other

Comment #: 12082
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Biased and closed minded.

A threat to innovation and technological growth.

A stereotypical model of the 19th century Luddite.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 10129
Rating:2.5

Comments:
Completely and unashamedly biased. Does not have any semblance of judicial temperment. Her bias seeped into the jury making it unfair for the client at trial.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 10000
Rating:2.0

Comments:
Tends to discount valid hard evidence in a business matter that conflicts with her liberal bias.

Litigant

Comment #: 9658
Rating:3.0

Comments:
death to pro se litigants applying IFP.
I have my work cut out for me to show her merits of case against her overwhelming bias.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: 9567
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Couldn't agree more with Comment # 9513. At my last initial conference in front of her, she all but advised defense counsel to seek sanctions if I pursued the case. It wasn't my strongest case, but it was very far from frivolous. Her extreme anti-plaintiff bias makes her unfit to hold judicial office.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: 9513
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Biased against plaintiffs in police misconduct cases. At the initial conference, she asks the plaintiff's attorney for his version of the case and then, regardless of the merits, always tells the attorney, in front of defense counsel, that the case should settle on the "low-end of the spectrum." She believes that she is encouraging settlement but she actually is impeding settlement by encourgaging defendants to make unreasonably low offers.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 9175
Rating:8.4

Comments:
Judge Buchwald doesn't suffer fools gladly and that may impact her scores negatively , but I find it a virtue. On the whole she is fair, balanced, good on the law, extremely well prepared and very savvy. I'd rate her as a very good if not excellent jurist.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 8645
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Temperament and evenhandedness ratings lower than "1" should be available for jurists of this caliber.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 7497
Rating:1.5

Comments:
Highly biased against plaintiffs in civil rights litigation, and doesn't even bother to try to hide it.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: 6490
Rating:4.2

Comments:
Nice judge -- as long as you take your conviction and don't fight hard. Loves to stop good crosses if she feels they are hurting the government's case.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: 4028
Rating:8.3

Comments:
We believe she read every exhibit submitted in support of our seeking a 3553(a) non-Guideline sentence for our client. While I know we had substantial 3553(a) factors -- which the Court credited -- the government didn't help its case by being tardy and deficient in its sentencing papers.

Judge Buchwald is thoroughly prepared and expects you to be as well. You can't fluff it. You need some record or legal support for the positions you advance to effectively represent your client.

Although the client recived a term of imprisonment, he agreed that the Court saw through all the government's rantings and ultimately imposed a fair and just sentence. Both counsel and client felt that justice was very well served in Judge Buchwald's court.

Court Staff

Comment #: 2709
Rating:9.5

Comments:
Excellent judge. Diligent, hardworking and smart. Can't ask for more.

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Ratings

What others have said about Hon. Naomi Reice Buchwald

Comments

Probation or Pretrial Officer

Civil Litigation - Private

Civil Litigation - Private

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Litigant

Other

Civil Litigation - Private

Other

Civil Litigation - Private

Civil Litigation - Private

Other

Other

Other

Other

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Other

Civil Litigation - Private

Civil Litigation - Private

Litigant

Other

Civil Litigation - Private

Civil Litigation - Private

Litigant

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Civil Litigation - Private

Civil Litigation - Private

Civil Litigation - Private

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Court Staff