"The Robing Room: CA State Judges

Hon. David M. Chapman	See Rating Details
Judge Superior Court
Riverside County	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 5.9 - 7 rating(s) Non-Attorney Average Rating: 1.0 - 4 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. David M. Chapman

Comments

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA41963
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
I am glad Judge David Chapman is now retired. I've been a civil litigator for 20 years and I've seen a lot. In all my years I've never witnessed a Judge have such a blatant disregard for the rule of law. I witnessed on several occasions judge Chapman allowing lawyers to get away with unconscionable misconduct in his courtroom, doing nothing to stop injustices, court fraud, and collusion. Crooked lawyers took their cues from Judge Chapman and were further emboldened to violate rules of conduct worthy of disbarment over and over again. Shamefull.

Litigant

Comment #: CA36522
Rating:1.0

Comments:
After I posted in the robing room two statements Judge Chapman made during trial that were the basis of my appeal, his two statements did not appear in the trial transcript.

The defendant helps get judges and political figures elected by giving them a public forum and Judge Chapman presided over an underlying case that became a current legal malpractice case where an attorney partly committed legal malpractice before him. I’ve been in a trial where collusion took place but I still believed in the system. I wish I were an attorney or investigator so I could have proof and change what needs changing. At this point I no longer have faith in the justice system.

Litigant

Comment #: CA34934
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
I’ve been involved in several cases that went to trial. I won 90% of them. I’ve never had my credibility challenged. However, this judge challenged my credibility and ruled on my entire case on basis of one question. Judge completely misinterpreted my answer and said, angrily, he was determining my case using this one answer for preponderance of evidence standard. Case was against someone for fraud whose defense was apparently that he lied so much no one could have believed him. Strangest courtroom experience of my life. A complete mystery.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA33621
Rating:8.0

Comments:
Judge Chapman is always well-prepared and his tentative rulings are well-reasoned. He pays close attention to detail and is often a stickler for the rules of civil procedure. However, I wish he were even-handed in applying the rules, holding all litigants to the same standard (whether or not they regularly appear in front of him - he seems to show some lenience toward attorneys he knows). He can be downright nasty in tone, berating attorneys in open court in a manner not commensurate with the perceived offense. I've also seen him impose harsh sanctions (even dismissals) for very minor items, and he can also be really condescending, particularly to pro se litigants.

Other

Comment #: CA32871
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Judge Chapman of Palm Springs Superior Court fails in some cases his duty to uphold the code of ethics for judges and lawyers. A Judge is obligated by the code of ethics to report lawyers violating the rules of conduct, which govern lawyers. He violates his duty to uphold justice and fairness for all to be heard by excusing blatant misconduct of some lawyers whose violations are detrimental to the party harmed by conduct/ rules violations. He is part of the systemic problem of the "system", which is so abused by lawyers and judges of Palm Springs Superior Court.

Litigant

Comment #: CA32207
Rating:1.0

Comments:
In my opinion and experience, the big problem with this judge is the same problem with nearly all of the justices on the Utah Supreme Court. He is a petty tyrant, and has the worst attributes of the worst judges. I echo the sentiments of what other litigants have said below. If you're looking into this judge, and you should, trust the opinions of other litigants whose cases are heard, and not particularly those of lawyers who have to often appear in this court and are forced to play nice nice while holding their noses. This judge will believe anything, just like the pro tem. George Kossler in Dept. PS3. Unless your case means nothing to you, I'd carefully think about filing a peremptory challenge of Chapman right away, and then if you're shunted down the hallway to refusing to stipulate to Kossler as a pro tem. You'll thank yourself bunches later.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA32007
Rating:9.0

Comments:
I am favorably impressed with his preparation and attention to detail. Seems well versed in the law.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA14859
Rating:9.0

Comments:
Judge Chapman is an outstanding judge. Most of the negative comments are from one pro se litigant who is a conspiracy theorist and a crackpot. He lost his cases because they were without merit and rather than acknowledge reality he has chosen to publicly disparage anyone involved in handling his cases. If you draw Judge Chapman, consider yourself fortunate. You will get an intelligent and fair judge.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA9538
Rating:1.2

Comments:
Not too swift. He seems to want to believe the worst about people. The only way I would keep him is if I had a loser of a case...at least I would have a 50/50 chance of winning.

Other

Comment #: CA8825
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
a thief, cheat and liar, a disgrace to the judiciary

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA8803
Rating:2.0

Comments:
A bully, slick, liar, cheat, a incompetent believing he is cleaver, condones hearsay, ignores evidence, fabricated court minutes, collusion with favored lawyers and spiteful

Other

Comment #: CA8802
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Imperious, pompous, retaliatory, shoots from hip, rules against the law, condones hearsay, perjury, fraud on the court, tampers with minutes, favrotism-bias, and general incompetence, a bully.

Civil Litigation - Govt.

Comment #: CA7998
Rating:3.2

Comments:
Judge Chapman is a public employee as well as a public figure and therefore, based on his recent ruling, he must feel that his right to privacy is less important that someone else's first amendment right to gossip about his private matters.
[Redacted]

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA6997
Rating:8.9

Comments:
Even though Judge Chapman ruled against my client in a bench trial, I would try a case before him again in a heartbeat. He was always prepared, his tentatives were well-reasoned, and even when I disagreed with his rulings, he supported them. As a trial judge, he is very active in questioning counsel and witnesses, which showed me he was invested in the matter as the trier of fact.