Hon. David Hittner See Rating Details
District Judge See Comments
S.D.Tex.  
Average Rating:5.4 - 28 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. David Hittner


Comments


Litigant

Comment #: 32823
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
An entire joke, he threw my case completely, he didn’t care about any laws cited and he misinterpreted (purposely) laws that the defendant cited to rule on their favor.

A shame and a scandal.

Other

Comment #: 32325
Rating:1.0
Comments:
he professes to being a prolific writer to the detrement of his motions to Pro-Se. If you are not a lawyer do not go before Judge Hittner. No heart- does not care if you are ill - just gets nastier.
He is a Lawyers Judge- too bad for everyone else.

Litigant

Comment #: 21323
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Judge Hittner decided for Chevron in my whistleblower case which proved Chevron had committed massive SEC fraud (H-06-3810) - with many of the exact violations as had Enron, and included others which showed manipulation of crude oil and natural gas pricing. Bracewell and Giuliani (defense counsel) altered documents produced in litigation, lied repeatedly to judges at the [DOL] administrative, the state court, and the federal court level. In addition, Chevron/Giuliani failed to serve filings and notice of oral hearings on more than 10 occasions in the lower dockets. After a second SOX complaint, Chevron/Giuliani sued for permanent injunction, and again failed to serve notice of the oral hearing before Judge Hittner. Apparently Judge Hittner had not even read the arguments, believed the Chevron and Giuliani lies, and granted a permanent injunction (H-07-3236). Defense counsel Eden Sholeen for Giulani was fired immediately after the ruling, the Manager of Investor Relations for Chevron was immediately removed, and the CFO (Steve Crowe) and CEO (David O'Reilly) "retired" the next year. Chevron revenues were $1 billion per day (still are), and the American economy has been crippled since oil prices were tripled during/after the litigation in 2008.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: 20927
Rating:8.8
Comments:
A most underrated judge. I have tried numerous cases in his court. Once past your initiation, where you establish that you know the rules, he gives one all the leeway one could ask for. He enjoys watching a good lawyer operate, setting a trap for the other side. He does not help the government. If they can't hack it, he goes after them just as hard as he does an incompetent defense counsel. Fairest and best trial judge I have ever appeared before in the entire district. He is very tough when it comes to sentencing, unless you give him a really good reason and not the usual song and dance. He has always been open to a "C" plea in the right case.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 20743
Rating:3.2
Comments:
Talks down to practicing attorneys despite never really having practiced law.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: 19882
Rating:4.5
Comments:
Set-up his mind prior to a trial, does not read the papers of the side of the pre-loser in his opinion. Could never pass a just decision. You lose your arguments before you bring them to his court.

Civil Litigation - Govt.

Comment #: 13813
Rating:4.4
Comments:
Judge Hittner is a bully. He takes great joy in berating and intimidating those who appear before him. He chooses sides and relentlessly abuses the side he thinks should lose. He has no business being a judge.

Civil Litigation - Govt.

Comment #: 13511
Rating:9.3
Comments:
Judge Hittner is my favorite Judge. Reminds me of my Dad. A natural born teacher, who expects scholarship and meticulous preparation. Strong personality characterizes a great trial judge motivated by conscientiousness to get the job done!

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: 11800
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
I would be surprised if he has read the US Constitution since law school. He certainly routinely violates his oath to protect and defend it. He bullies to intimadate those in his court for one reason....he is trying to hide his own intelligence shortcomings.

Other

Comment #: 11635
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
There is nothing 'honorable' about a judge who ignores SIX (6) lies made by the prosecution & brought to his attention.
So much for justice in Hittner's courtroom.

Other

Comment #: 11622
Rating:1.0
Comments:
He has to be the most unethical judge in history. Recent rulings have been made which ignore facts and case law presented by litigants. Hittner should consider retirement since he appears no longer interested in doing the work properly. He decided he does not like Stanford... and he is crucifying a pretrial detainee, a presumed innocent man. Shame on you Hittner.

Other

Comment #: 11620
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Hittner has become increasingly arrogant in his performance and is an embarrassment to the court system. Recent rulings have been made which ignore facts and case law presented by litigants. Hittner should consider retirement since he appears no longer interested in doing the work properly.

Other

Comment #: 9208
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
He just turned down a motion, in a recent case in NY. Did he even read it? Did he even remember the evidence presented?

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: 8572
Rating:8.3
Comments:
I know there are quite a few attorneys who have a negative opinion of him. I do not understand this. I have always found him to be fair and industrious --willing to roll up his sleeeves and go to work on the issues in a case. It is true that his demeanor can be overbearing but I do not question his basic fairness or ability.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: 8265
Rating:6.2
Comments:
Simply put, the picture next to "God Complex" is his, and he works to keep it there. To call him a bully is a huge understatement.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 7507
Rating:1.4
Comments:
He thinks he's God's gift to the judiciary. He is an example of how not to be a judge. He is biased, and the judicial process suffers because of it. He is a fat, unattractive, grumpy bully. He overcompensates for his obvious shortcomings by lashing out at the litigants without reason.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 6305
Rating:2.3
Comments:
Judge Hittner's demeanor leaves much to be desired. He has a tendency to be outright rude to everyone involved and is a complete bully.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: 5168
Rating:7.7
Comments:
A very good judge who can be actually fun to try a case before . . . if you are prepared. If you're not prepared, he's a real bear.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 4951
Rating:1.4
Comments:
Nasty and mean. He creates personal interests and pursues payoff with vigor. He always sucks up to female lawyers and tries to 'date' them -- this guy is the worst federal judge in the country. Hateful and always has a personal agenda.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: 4849
Rating:3.8
Comments:
This judge is totally inappropriate in any case involving the media. He likes to see his name in the paper more than any other judge I know. Too bullying and temperamentally erratic.

Prosecutor

Comment #: 4815
Rating:1.0
Comments:
As a prosecutor, I usually am the beneficiary of his rulings. Still, I do not like to see the judicial process indulge judges of his caliber. He has a poor demeanor; in fact, he's a bully. He is also very biased towards the government, which makes the prosecutor's job easier but is not good for those who want judicial fairness and even-handedness.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 4814
Rating:1.0
Comments:
Poor judicial demeanor. Worst case of "black robe disease" in the SDTX. Often reversed on appeal because he does not believe that he has to explain himself.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 3844
Rating:9.4
Comments:
Merciless re: the effect of his break neck pace on the attorneys, he keeps his jury happy and gets a good job done. He is open about giving you the rope to hang yourself. So if he tells you you may create an appellate issue if he grants your request, listen.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: 2980
Rating:7.5
Comments:
He's a bit of a bully, but he does his homework and gets it right. He's a scholar who tries to act like a Marine Corps bootcamp instructor. I like him, but you'd better be VERY prepared in his court.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 2974
Rating:9.7
Comments:
Judge Hittner doesn't suffer fools. Be prepared when you come to his courtroom. Have the files and other papers you need to present your argument or case. Don't send an associate unfamiliar with the file unless you want him thrown out of the courtroom

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 1809
Rating:8.7
Comments:
Tough but fair. He sometimes changes his stated positions on scheduling, so get it on the record.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: 1535
Rating:3.7
Comments:
Judicial tyrant and bully-boy.