"The Robing Room: AZ State Judges

Hon. Julie Mata	See Rating Details
Superior Court Judge Superior Court
Maricopa County	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 6.0 - 4 rating(s) Non-Attorney Average Rating: 7.0 - 16 rating(s)	Please send me alerts on this judge E-mail Address:

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Only items marked with (*) are averaged into the displayed overall rating.

General Rating Criteria

* 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=Chronically Late,10=Always on Time)
* General Ability to Handle Pre-Trial Matters		(1=Not all Able, 10=Extremely Able)
* General Ability as a Trial Judge		(1=Not all Able, 10=Extremely Able)
Flexibility In Scheduling		(1=Completely Inflexible,10=Very Flexible)

Criminal Rating Criteria (if applicable)

* Evenhandedness in Criminal Litigation		(1=Demonstrates Bias,10=Entirely Evenhanded)
General Inclination Regarding Bail		(1=Pro-Defense,10=Pro-Government)
Involvement in Plea Discussions		(1=Not at all Involved, 10=Very Involved)
General Inclination in Criminal Cases Pretrial Stage		(1=Pro-prosecution,10=Pro-defense)
General Inclination in Criminal Cases Trial Stage		(1=Pro-prosecution,10=Pro-defense)
General Inclination in Criminal Cases Sentencing Stage		(1=Pro-prosecution,10=Pro-defense)

Civil Rating Criteria (if applicable)

* Evenhandedness in Civil Litigation		(1=Not at all Evenhanded,10=Entirely Evenhanded)
Involvement in Settlement Discussions		(1=Not at all Involved,10=Very Involved)
General Inclination		(1=Pro-defendant, 10=Pro-plaintiff)

Comments

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What others have said about Hon. Julie Mata

Comments

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: AZ2942
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Not a good judge. Started off angry and seemed to have her mind made up. Very short hearing. Requesting a different judge for the next time.

Other

Comment #: AZ2939
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Honorable and fair, most negative reviews are very likely from the same scorned individual.

Litigant

Comment #: AZ2916
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Judge Mata has no business judging anyone to decide what’s best for their children. She seems to decide who she likes before the hearing even begins and be out rude or threaten contempt if she doesn’t like the facts being presented. The only thing that kept her from forcing her opinion was the child themselves whom got dragged in to tell her the same thing is parents told her and because it was the truth she had no choice but to take that threat of contempt and stick it.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: AZ2901
Rating:3.6

Comments:
Sadly, you never know which Judge Mata you're going to get. During one hearing, you may get an attentive and seemingly impartial jurist. In the next, you could get an annoyed, "I'm tired of this case" type of attitude.

Once you get the "annoyed" Judge Mata, lookout! In one example, instead of enforcing her own Court Order, she dismissed it altogether with no consequence of it being violated multiple times.

She doesn't seem to really be listening to what's being said, especially when the hearing takes place on Teams. It feels as if her mind is already made up based on whether she's tired of the motions or notices filed in the case. And once she's annoyed with you, you're not going to have the chance to be an effective litigator. Not to mention, your subsequent motions or notices, will likely be denied. She is certainly transparent and reactionary with her feelings, rather than thoughtful and contemplative.

Even in complex, high conflict family matters, she likes to rule from the bench rather than take the evidence and testimony under advisement and carefully render a decision. That's probably why there seem to be an above normal number of special action appeals on her rulings.

The bottom line, the rotation cannot come soon enough. Good luck.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: AZ2861
Rating:9.6

Comments:
In a dreary lineup of really slow-witted, portly men, Judge Mata is a shining light. Excellent jurist.

Other

Comment #: AZ2854
Rating:3.0

Comments:
At first Judge Mata seems great. She seems to have a warm, engaging demeanor. However, it doesn't take long to realize that she either doesn't know what she is doing or is just completely lazy. It couldn't be more obvious that she doesn't read the motions before her, she rules from the bench just to make her job easier, instead of taking the time to actually do what is right. She really seems to not want to be there, to not want to have to think, so she makes cookie cutter decisions not based on the facts of the case. I have heard she has had several of her decisions going to appeal. You would think this might give her a dose of reality to start taking her job more seriously but it doesn't seem to have had that effect. I have had some great experiences with judges in the family court, just not with Judge Mata. Judge Mata, please start caring enough to do your job well. Children's well-being and their entire futures are at stake.

Other

Comment #: AZ2830
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Wow!! The most opinionated, bias and unprofessional judge I have ever had to have contact with. Not interested in hearing out a MOTHER of almost adult in a long drawn out case that had been ongoing for over 5 years. The judges prior seemed fair or at least just going off the laws they had to work with. One judge even dismissed it finally and after appeals courts this lady just really got in there and quickly threw out her own opinions on many things during the hearing including her dislike for the military weapons because our son was enlisting to the US Military just before he turned 18. I have never in all those years going through so many hearings and judges in the matter seen this unprofessionalism and outward attitude while hearing a case.

Other

Comment #: AZ2812
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Thank you Judge Mata, for being the first jusge to stand up to Laura Owen's fraud! Now the rest will follow suit. Justice has been served.

Other

Comment #: AZ2808
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I thought judges were supposed to be un bias and do what is fair? This judge has a major attitude without even hearing much of the case in my situation. I am not sure what has happened to this person in her own life but she is scary to have any decision makings for my family.

Other

Comment #: AZ2807
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Judge Mata is the best judge I have seen in the courts since 2022 Depp v Heard. During the LO v CE case Judge Mata was patient, fair, reasonable, she had a good knowledge of the law. I would've put LO in jail for always interrupting Deandra and never answering the questions. LO is a horrible person and Judge Mata did the right thing and followed all of the laws. I hope LO goes to jail for committing perjury.

Other

Comment #: AZ2806
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Thank you, Judge Mata, for seeing through all of the lies and fraudulent documents in your ruling of LO v CE. You're the ONLY judge to do so since 2015! She has weaponized our justice system to abuse and torment at least 4 men with false allegations. You finally put a stop to her rampage and it is much appreciated!

Other

Comment #: AZ2805
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
I was having internet issues logging into the video court hearing which only took maybe 3 minutes to sort out but when I joined I was Able To hear Judge Mata already talking off record to the opposing sides lawyer. The moment of logging in and getting started my husband and I were met with obvious bad attitude. The hearing didn’t take long at all because after battling for five years and our son enrolled into the Airforce was leaving for boot camp and wanted nothing to do with the ex step grandma fighting for parental rights the judge ordered us to in person court and to bring our almost 18 year old with us. In the hearing now in person our so. Testified he does not want the ex step grandma interfering with his life anymore and he is almost 18 and has been set for boot camp. The judge talked to him as if he was a Baby. She went on and on about his “frontal lobe not being developed enough for him to make that decision for himself.” Judge Mata also went into asking him why he thought he was old enough to go train in the military and use a gun. My husbands entire family has been military so this was just disgusting that it was even thought to be something SHE should have an opinion on. This judge clearly has poitical issues she’s dragging into her court rooms while being appointed to make decisions for American families. Just a disgrace! Our son went off to boot camp. He graduated and has been in the military ever since now and he has transformed into a grown man overnight by being in the US military. We are very proud of him and his frontal lobe!

Other

Comment #: AZ2804
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Excellent temperament for the trials she has before her. She is very patient and supportive of the clients in her court room. She paid a lot of attention to all of the evidence that was before her. Very lucky she was presiding judge over the case.

Other

Comment #: AZ2797
Rating:10.0

Comments:
The HONORABLE Judge Mata is exactly that---HONORABLE! She handles her courtroom with grace and patience while maintaining complete control. She considers all evidence and testimony and is very astute. She seeks the truth and swiftly sees through fabrications. She is efficient and respectable. The citizens of Maricopa County are blessed to have her on the bench!

Other

Comment #: AZ2795
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Having followed this case for many, many months, it is refreshing to see a judge that takes in the evidence on both sides and makes a determined and fair decision based on the evidence before her.

Other

Comment #: AZ2793
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Judge Mata ruled with lots of thought and care given the evidence. She clearly did the work to accurately rule.

Other

Comment #: AZ2790
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Judge Mata ruled fairly and swiftly, given the preponderance of evidence (both real and faked) in this complex case. She ruled fairly and professionally on motions pre-trial and in the courtroom.

Other

Comment #: AZ2788
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Shes no BS. Found her to be very fair and ask the right questions.
She has far more patience than me.

Other

Comment #: AZ2787
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Shes no BS. Found her to be very fair and ask the right questions.
She has far more patience than me.

Litigant

Comment #: AZ2744
Rating:2.0

Comments:
Clearly biased from the start. I had custody of my children for the past several years, year after year, my ex takes me to court with a new lawyer once the mandatory year is up and she can file. Year after year, she was denied, some judges even saying she brought the same complaints year after year. I could tell as soon as the hearing started Mata had already made up her mind. My ex made a huge deal about my ball python (a snake at about 1 1/2 feet) getting out of his cage and seeking warmth with our 13 year old daughter (it is actually my daughter's snake). (it is also interesting to note, and my attorney brought up, my ex has the same exact species of snake in her home only a little bigger because hers is a female). When I testified that the issue my ex was referring to was over a year prior, the snake was just looking for warmth, and I had bought new cage locks and the snake had not gotten out since, the judge interrupted my testimony to say that she googled a snake lying next to someone and it "means" they are sizing up their pray. That is when I knew I was losing. First of all, A judge should know to check her sources on the internet, but instead interrupts my testimony to talk about an URBAN LEGEND saying my daughter may be in danger with this snake. She also didn't give any means of transitioning our children in her order from one state to another which caused tremendous grief and turmoil for my children when my ex insisted they move the day the order came in, with no notice because they weren't even aware there was a trial and a decision coming. It resulted in my children (one of which is on the spectrum and doesn't do change well) being ripped from their home with no notice or preparation, not even getting to say goodbye to their friends, family and community.

Other

Comment #: AZ2685
Rating:1.0

Comments:
She judges upon her past cases and will threaten punishable contempt of court while ignoring provided proof of the other parties lawyer lying repeatedly in court documents and under oath in hearings. If you are representing yourself against a party that hired a lawyer and you have Judge Julie Mata you can safely assume you will be considered to be the liar over the opposing lawyer.