The Robing Room

Hon. Thomas P. Smith	See Rating Details
Magistrate Judge	See Comments
D.Conn.
Average Rating:9.7 - 20 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)
Items marked with (*) are averaged into the displayed overall rating

Comments

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What others have said about Hon. Thomas P. Smith

Comments

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 22803
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Without a doubt, the best. The trial bar will truly miss him

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 22801
Rating:10.0

Comments:
He will be sorely missed.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 18932
Rating:10.0

Comments:
After two full days of settlement conferencing involving a I-95 truck/passenger vehicle collision, Judge Magistrate Thomas P.Smith somehow prevailed upon the defendants (self-insured) to raise their offer sufficiently to resolve the matter. After the first day of unsuccesful negotiation, trial prep commenced in the belief that the defendants were never going to get into the window that the plaintiffs required. Mirabile dictu, Judge Smith moved the defendants into that window. Thank you Judge Smith.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 12074
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
The best all-around judge on the federal bench. Period.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 11650
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Judge Smith is the best of the best. Fair, evenhanded and efficient. He is the model of judicial temperment. He puts in the prep work, and it shows in his mediation of complicated civil cases. Passionate for justice he understands the lawe, and does his best to ensure a fair result. I can't say enough about him. If he is assigned to your case, consider yourself fortunate!

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: 9534
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Excellent Judge who combines all the qualities a trial lawyer prays for in a judge: intelligence; experience as a trial lawyer; practical understanding of how the system functions; sympathy and compassion for the deserving party; and respect for all participants.

In addition to the above, he knows how to get a case settled - he follows through and knows how to get a deal done.

In short, the parties leave his courtroom feeling good about the process and the result, all the result of a mix of Irish charm and competency applied by an experienced jurist who has managed, unlike too many others in similar roles, to avoid becoming a burned-out case and instead has prospered in the job.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 9315
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Judge Smith is an exemplary judge for several reasons--he has enormous wisdom and knowledge of the law, excellent judgment and common sense, and is always fair and evenhanded. His extensive trial experience (as a prosecutor and as a judge) comes shining through. Rarer still, he seems to genuinely care about giving the parties their day in court. Judge Smith is everything a judge should be.

Civil Litigation - Govt.

Comment #: 9040
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
I have tried a case in front of Judge Smith and he was excellent. Respectful of everyone involved and very fair to both sides. Stayed completely out of the way but ruled when necessary. In chambers, he showed himself to be not only a brilliant jurist but a down to earth nice person too. The whole experience was a pleasure.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 8910
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Intelligent and skilled jurist. Settled a multimillion construction case when several other district judges could not. Works very hard. Not only smart but has the perfect temperament. I agree -- should be a District Court Judge.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 8704
Rating:9.7

Comments:
A major credit to the federal bench in Connecticut and has been for years.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 7634
Rating:9.7

Comments:
Superb judge, personable, hardworking, and an extremely skilled mediator. Has a temper but uses it in moderation. Very smart, but not arrogant about it.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 7633
Rating:9.2

Comments:
I have had three occasions to participate in settlement conferences presided over by Judge Smith, each of which settled. Judge Smith is fair, understands the business aspects and interests in commercial litigation and uses subtle and not so subtle tactics to bring the parties to a palatable settlement. This judge settles cases (and usually tells an interesting story or two).

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 7246
Rating:9.3

Comments:
This guy gets it! His demeanor and competency beg the question: Why isn't this man an Article III judge?

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 6741
Rating:9.5

Comments:
Excellent, fair judge. Enjoys his work and truly cares about the people relying on him. He should be appointed a district court judge.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: 6664
Rating:9.7

Comments:
I endorse completely those comments wondering why this truly exceptional judge was not long ago made a district court judge. It is truly our district's loss!

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 6578
Rating:9.6

Comments:
Judge Smith helped us settle an "unsettleable" case quickly and fairly. Knew the case cold from memory and used a subtle psychology to spur the negotiations that transcended the legal aspects of the case. This is one of the finest judges I've come across in 25 years of practice - not to mention a truly nice and interesting man. The cream of the crop in a district filled with excellent judges.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 5279
Rating:10.0

Comments:
I have been in private practice for nearly 30 years ...but until last week I had never had ocassion to be before Magistrate Judge Smith. His Honor deftly worked with the parties and after several hours a settlement was reached that quite frankly, we did not think possible.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 4694
Rating:9.3

Comments:
He should have been a District Court Judge; he is better than most of them!

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 3850
Rating:9.1

Comments:
I tried a case with MJ Smith - what a pleasurable experience! Super nice. Great sense of humor. His skills at settlement and persuasion are legendary. Like the other superb magistrate judges in this district, we'd like to have Smith as an Article III judge. If only the judges with the lousy reps and low ratings would get lost.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 3692
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Wake up and appoint this man to an Article III judgeship!

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Ratings

What others have said about Hon. Thomas P. Smith

Comments

Civil Litigation - Private

Civil Litigation - Private

Civil Litigation - Private

Civil Litigation - Private

Civil Litigation - Private

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Civil Litigation - Private

Civil Litigation - Govt.

Civil Litigation - Private

Civil Litigation - Private

Civil Litigation - Private

Civil Litigation - Private

Civil Litigation - Private

Civil Litigation - Private

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Civil Litigation - Private

Civil Litigation - Private

Civil Litigation - Private

Civil Litigation - Private

Civil Litigation - Private