Hon. Nicholas G. Garaufis See Rating Details
District Judge See Comments
E.D.N.Y.  
Average Rating:3.8 - 30 rating(s)
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Ratings
*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. Nicholas G. Garaufis


Comments


Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: 35483
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
down to earth, fair and thoughtful, an excellent jusge that has improved the lives of thousands of individuals with his thoughtful and progressive decisions.

Send e-mail to this poster 2/24/2024 7:48:03 AM

Other

Comment #: 25201
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
He clearly has no respect for the separation of powers within our government and is a typical liberal judge who feels compelled to legislate from the bench. He is unfit to be a judge.

Send e-mail to this poster 2/14/2018 6:46:06 AM

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 24216
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Unstable, vindictive, biased, with a nasty temperament. Other than that, he's a good judge.

Send e-mail to this poster 3/2/2017 5:05:33 PM

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: 13177
Rating:5.0
Comments:
A good person who really has no business being in the crucible of knowledgeable and fair decision-making of a federal courtroom. Makes rulings with an error ratio that is higher than if he simply flipped a coin. You never know whether you will get Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde each time he takes the bench.

Send e-mail to this poster 11/18/2011 7:40:11 AM

Other

Comment #: 12592
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Recently ruled that candidates taking the

FDNY Civil Service test must check off

the race portion, or their application

will not be accepted. Is this within

legal authority. Please someone reply.

Send e-mail to this poster 7/16/2011 3:43:07 PM

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: 12264
Rating:1.3
Comments:
Just doesn't get how important a role he can play...clueless and venal.

Send e-mail to this poster 5/5/2011 3:35:25 PM

Other

Comment #: 12132
Rating:1.0
Comments:
His humiliation of the Asian woman who truthfully answered questions on her jury questionnaire more than aptly demonstrates his politically correct liberal view. He is UNFIT to serve in any capacity of government. Remove that piece of trash from the bench!

Send e-mail to this poster 4/6/2011 1:52:09 PM

Other

Comment #: 11871
Rating:1.0
Comments:
This guy takes all his orders from the

DOJ on all Civil Rights issues, most

recently on the FDNY case could not

provide any evidence at all showing that

the tests were biased against non white

candidates. Claimed there was disparate

impact. What a prize.

Send e-mail to this poster 1/6/2011 1:41:53 PM

Other

Comment #: 10106
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Given these lawyer comments, why is this guy not being looked into by whatever Senators or judicial authorities tasked with the responsibility to do something. Lifetime appointment can't possibly mean lifetime no matter what...

Send e-mail to this poster 4/23/2010 5:35:51 PM

Other

Comment #: 9999
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
To the one who posted comment # 9938, don't know if it's the same incident you refer to but I too heard that this judge sent U.S. Marshals to someone's home solely because the guy had telephoned his chambers - the guy had done nothing wrong or threatening and was polite. It was very intimidating. The judge must think he's on the bench in some third world dictatorship.

Send e-mail to this poster 3/31/2010 10:54:25 PM

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 9939
Rating:1.1
Comments:
A real treasure on the bench-he should be buried. No inkling of what a fair and impartial jurist is. Will bend over backwards to accomodate Gov't. Will go out of his way to screw any other litigant. Once he forms an idea-no matter how absurd, he does not re-consider. Just pile more fertilizer on top and hope something grows.

Send e-mail to this poster 3/18/2010 9:09:28 AM

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: 9938
Rating:1.4
Comments:
This judge holds litigants to a strict and inflexible time schedule. however, when he is expected to rule he takes his sweet time and often comes to the wrong conclusion. He is extremely pro-government and inclined to judicial activism. Has no clue about the rules of evidence, civil rights violations or, what the US Constitution is really about. Readily dismisses civil rights claims against prosecutors and law enforcement. Uses the US Marshall's Office to intimidate litigants. A real spineless coward by definition.

Send e-mail to this poster 3/17/2010 5:31:25 PM

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 9902
Rating:2.0
Comments:
Intellectual lightweight and an activist who doesn't belong on the bench.

Send e-mail to this poster 3/10/2010 8:12:21 PM

Prosecutor

Comment #: 9391
Rating:1.3
Comments:
A real government judge, and I used to enjoy him. I could tell him that the man in the moon exception to hearsay would apply and he'd buy it. No longer in EDNY, and have matured: he let's the blindfold slip and hasn't let his political past go.

Send e-mail to this poster 11/1/2009 4:18:02 PM

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: 8099
Rating:1.1
Comments:
Clearly one of the worst judges currently on the bench. Does anything that the government wants. Has no knowledge of the rules of evidence. Simply turns to the government to get his "ruling." Can't walk and chew gum at the same time. Couldn't find his chambers without assistance from his law clerk.

Send e-mail to this poster 2/20/2009 3:11:11 PM

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: 8025
Rating:1.4
Comments:
A trial before him is a real horror show. One of the most narcissistic individuals I have ever had the occasion to meet. Extremely biased against defendants and defense attorneys. As he puts it, he won't let technicalities get in the way of what he perceives as justice, i.e., getting a conviction. Has had marshals bring a defendant to his chambers to make inquiry about his counsel and cooperation.

Send e-mail to this poster 2/10/2009 8:40:01 AM

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: 8004
Rating:1.1
Comments:
A prosecutor with robes. Nasty. Thinks the world of himself and expects an appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Send e-mail to this poster 2/8/2009 1:29:02 PM

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: 6858
Rating:3.2
Comments:
Unreasonable and intemperate. Totally in the U.S. Attorneys' corner.

Send e-mail to this poster 10/3/2008 9:05:39 AM

Court Staff

Comment #: 5397
Rating:1.6
Comments:
Absolutely the worst judge in the system. Court employee's comment: "You never know when he will blow." Erratic, chronically late, as is his deputy. Tries to appear "normal," but he's not. Screams and shouts for no reason. He's not quirky but seriously mentally ill.

Send e-mail to this poster 12/15/2007 11:44:55 AM

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: 3993
Rating:9.7
Comments:
Very regular guy. Very hard working. Not a push over. Really goes out of his way to be even handed to defendants. Slighly favors the prosecution at trial. Very nice and polite. Treats lawyers and litigants with real respect.

Send e-mail to this poster 4/14/2007 10:06:59 PM

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: 3166
Rating:3.0
Comments:
Not stable, erratic on trial, makes personal comments, and appears insecure
with himself. Not qualified to handle difficult criminal trials and lacks experience as a trial lawyer.
Spent 3.5 months on trial before him, thought I had entered the twilight zone, routinely reversed himself and allowed the gov't to abuse the whole process.

Send e-mail to this poster 12/3/2006 11:57:26 AM

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: 2467
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
I had a sentencing before him this week and, although we presented compelling reasons for a non-Guidelines sentence, we received the bottom end of the range. I wish it had gone the other way, but they can't all be winners. Both client and counsel felt we received a fair opportunity to present the bases for a non-Guidelines sentence and came away from the experience believing that a just sentence was imposed. He was, timely, courteous, professional and gave us every opportunity to make our case.

Send e-mail to this poster 9/20/2006 8:33:24 AM

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 2135
Rating:7.6
Comments:
I had one ADEA (plaintiff)case before him that eventually settled before trial. I found him decent, fair, and personable, but was not overally impressed with his legal acumen.

Send e-mail to this poster 9/6/2006 8:07:39 PM

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: 1500
Rating:8.7
Comments:
This is the biggest surprise in the EDNY. An unknown when he was appointed, he is one of the best current judges. Has no patience for lawyers who don't get to the point or who play fast and loose with the truth.

Send e-mail to this poster 6/28/2006 8:59:35 PM

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: 1015
Rating:4.5
Comments:
Fairly new to the bench, he's a fair sentencer, usually giving the minimum guideline term unless some aggravating factors. Very pro government pretrial and at trial. Has been known to dismiss countsHe can be condescending to counsel, but will give you plenty of time to argue your position.

Send e-mail to this poster 6/7/2006 5:58:59 PM

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: 1002
Rating:4.7
Comments:
Has a lot of good qualities and some that are infuriating. Generally, he lets everyone have their say -- sometimes excessively. He takes pains to sentence fairly. Tried a lengthy criminal case in front of him. His on-the-fly evidentiary rulings were weak and a very aggressive prosecutor ran all over him. Although he is generally quite patient he'll occasionally lose it, and leave you scratching your head wondering what just happened. Then, after a break, he'll return and everything will be back to normal.

Send e-mail to this poster 6/1/2006 5:30:22 PM