The Robing Room

Hon. Sidney H. Stein	See Rating Details
District Judge	See Comments
S.D.N.Y.
Average Rating:5.9 - 22 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. Sidney H. Stein

Comments

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: 32317
Rating:6.3

Comments:
Very pompous. Interrupts you just to hear himself ask questions he knows the answers to. Talks down to counsel for the government and defense, alike. Difficult to sway with argument. Comes out predestined. Avoid at all costs IMHO.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: 31528
Rating:4.8

Comments:
He is cynical and sarcastic and does not, in my opinion, have much respect for the defense function. Repeatedly interrupts counsel for no good reason; asks questions in a cross-examination style, not to gather information in good faith, but merely to make his own point; thinks he's much brighter than he really his; brings his biases onto the bench

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 28909
Rating:10.0

Comments:
One of the most conscientious and even-handed judges I have ever encountered. Judge Stein takes tremendous care to understand a party's arguments and gets the law right.

Other

Comment #: 26341
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Judge stein sentenced my son today and although he gave him a light sentencing there was one thing I really didn’t appreciate. He told my son he feel he could get a better job then to be an usher at a movie theater. My son got a promotion and became the head usher, but my question is what better job will he get going to prison and being a black male coming from prison what better job will he get? I felt he could’ve gave him supervised release for the three year instead of one year in prison. Just my thoughts

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 23149
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Thoroughly awful. Totally over his head in a complex case. Does not know what to do, so lets meaningful motions sit on his docket for many months. Then, like a schoolchild trying to disguise failure to complete the homework, he will scheme to have the assignment withdrawn, e.g. "motion denied without prejudice to refile later", etc. Disrespects attorneys from small firms with obvious and repeated slights and ad hominem attacks. The man is a discredit to the sdny specifically and the entire federal bench. He is on senior status and should just stay at home so the seat can be occupied a person who is competent and not poisoned by petty biases.

Civil Litigation - Govt.

Comment #: 22056
Rating:2.6

Comments:
This judge is mediocre. He is slow to rule and result oriented. He thinks he is very clever. However he is of average intelligence for a district judge. He is a nice fellow.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 18901
Rating:5.0

Comments:
I found it hard to explain how he came to his rulings. It was not a comfortable experience being before him though he appeared to work hard at getting it right he seemed to disregard the evidence he did not want to hear that would have required a contrary result.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 13310
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge is a misery with an even demeanor. Don't be fooled.He will not allow a litigant to have their case decided on the merits once he has decided that an attorney is not important enough to be in his courtroom. He is inflexible and without an army of people in your office to meet his deadlines you will not survive because he will destroy your case with dates that make no sense. Beware little guys--he does not want you in his courtroom no mater the merits of your case. He does not care that behind it all there is an actual client with a good case. He has forgotten his purpose and has no soul.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 11739
Rating:9.5

Comments:
Overall he was fair and unbiased. However, he is quick to dismiss or strike significant motions for non-substantive procedural (in one case he misapplied a local rule to do so) reasons without reviewing the underlying merits of the motion.

Court Staff

Comment #: 10513
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Let him think you are a progressive and write your own opinion. Look how he repaid Hillary Clinton for being appointed to the position by her husband. Hillarys' campaign manager Nemazee received a sentence 30% lighter than federal court guidelines for over 300 million dollar fraudulent loans, mostly for Democratic fundraising.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 9797
Rating:3.8

Comments:
Overall not very impressed. Has a very shallow view of the law, and workmanlike application of law to the facts, with very little insight. Good example of civil-servant justice that CJ Rehnquist once talked about -- not awful, but rather mediocre.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 9536
Rating:9.5

Comments:
Appeared before him on an expedited bankruptcy appeal that amounted to a TRO. Mastered a complicated set of facts very quickly and produced a fair, meaningful opinion practically overnight. Defied expectations.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 8729
Rating:9.5

Comments:
Judge Stein showed analytical keenness and precision in a federal securities case. He wrote a clean, careful opinion that led to settlement of the matter.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 5950
Rating:4.2

Comments:
Biased and vindictive -- a nightmare when it comes to the First Amendment.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 5616
Rating:9.3

Comments:
This is a judge who recognizes incompetent lawyers and frivolous arguments instantly, but allows such parties every opportunity to have their arguments carry the day. If that means giving them enough rope to hang themselves, so be it. A pleasure to appear before.

Other

Comment #: 4687
Rating:1.0

Comments:
He must be the most incompetent judge in the Justice System. He should be investigated for his poor decisions.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: 3560
Rating:8.2

Comments:
A very bright, conscientious hardworking guy with a mildly pro-prosecution bent who tries very hard to be fair and even-handed. He is courteous and patient and lets the lawyers try their cases.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 3058
Rating:2.0

Comments:
Very much pro-police in Section 1983 litigation. Granted summary judgment on a case that any other judge would have allowed to go to trial.

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Ratings

What others have said about Hon. Sidney H. Stein

Comments

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Civil Litigation - Private

Other

Civil Litigation - Private

Civil Litigation - Govt.

Civil Litigation - Private

Civil Litigation - Private

Civil Litigation - Private

Court Staff

Civil Litigation - Private

Civil Litigation - Private

Civil Litigation - Private

Civil Litigation - Private

Civil Litigation - Private

Other

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Civil Litigation - Private