"The Robing Room: CA State Judges

Hon. Robert P. Dahlquist	See Rating Details
Judge Superior Court
San Diego County	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 3.1 - 24 rating(s) Non-Attorney Average Rating: 1.0 - 11 rating(s)	Please send me alerts on this judge E-mail Address:

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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. Robert P. Dahlquist

Comments

Other

Comment #: CA53032
Rating:1.0

Comments:
We just concluded a civil suite where the Jury unequivocally voted in our favor (plaintiffs). The Judge then voted for the defendants using the "un-clean hands act" that had already been thwarted in trial. HIs reasons were illogical and the Jury had already voted against them. What is the point of having a Jury if you are not going to use the Jurys verdict. Hon. Robert Dahlquist should not be a public servant and should be investigated.

Prosecutor

Comment #: CA52895
Rating:1.1

Comments:
Robert Dahlquist needs to be criminally investigated. The entire San Diego Superior Court and all its judges need to be investigated. Dahlquist hates women and plaintiffs. He's vicious and biases the jurors against the party that he's targeted. He breaks the law and covers his tracks so you can never defend yourself. He lies on his Minutes. He twists the laws to the jurors so they're confused. He calls the party that he's targeted a liar so that the jurors turn against that party. He doesn't care about the law or justice. In all my years of practice, I've never seen anything like this judge. Dahlquist needs to be put in jail.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA52217
Rating:2.5

Comments:
As a Pro Se litigant, I think a third selection for "pro attorney" is needed. And I strongly suspect that the "pro attorney" would need further breakdown to "attorney friends" perhaps as well.
Judge Dahlquist ignores glaring evidence and invents arguments on behalf of his favored litigant, probably based on some "behind the scenes dialog" that we can never know for sure took place. I don't believe he is biased in favor of one sex or the other but possibly, if all things are otherwise equal, he will go against a litigant and/or their counsel if the other side is well known to him and especially if he had once worked in their office as an attorney before becoming a judge. The whole system seems like a "Legal Cartel" where certain attorneys work with certain judges and there is no way any of them can be held accountable. No wonder I have met so many attorneys who avoid litigation in San Diego County.

Litigant

Comment #: CA52216
Rating:1.0

Comments:
These words came out of his mouth at trial; "Right now she (the person that sued us, drained our bank account for almost two years, then dropped her ridiculous case against us) has more standing than you because she had an attorney and attorneys don't file frivolous lawsuits". But with no Court Reporter (thanks California) we relied on a heavily redacted Settled Statement on Appeal; Redacted by him, leaving out the bias comments and his own "corrections" on behalf of the other side. It was a real eye-opener to discover how completely dishonorable a person who is addressed as "Your Honor" can be.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA48721
Rating:1.8

Comments:
Is pro-defendant and pro-male. If you're not one or both of these, 170.6 immediately. LDS judges, or just angry old men, should not receive this much power. Dahlquist obtained the position of judge by default. San Diego Superior Court should know better, but they don't care. There's no care in this entire judicial system. If you're seeking truth or just hope that what's right will prevail, go elsewhere. It's not going to happen in this courtroom. He also lies and blames the plaintiff for lying. If you're one of his targeted parties, you don't stand a chance.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA47000
Rating:1.7

Comments:
Robert Dahlquist needs to be investigated. As an attorney, I've been in his courtroom numerous times and have witnessed his awful behaviors. He is destructive and has destroyed the justice system. He takes sides and I must agree with the other reviewers, he seems to hate women. If you should be brave enough to call him out on his behaviors, he creates a false narrative and accuses you of being a liar. Robert Dahlquist sets you up for failure so that you can never appeal. His minutes are biased and written to protect himself just in case you try to oppose anything that unfairly happens in his courtroom. Do yourself a favor and get away from this judge. Report him. If enough reports are made, something will have to be done.

Litigant

Comment #: CA46659
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I am a woman plaintiff and Dahlquist screamed at me constantly, cut me off, and called me a liar numerous times. He tainted the jurors against me. It was beyond humiliation and I had to keep myself from crying.

The Defendant, who is a male, got caught lying numerous times, took over the floor when it wasn't his turn, screamed out lies to the jurors as they were going into deliberation, and this male Defendant never got reprimanded.

I lost the damages owed to me, which I proved, because the jurors were confused by all the yelling at me and calling me a liar, and the Defendant being treated with kit gloves.

The male Defendant found me in the court parking lot after this devastating lost and heckled me. I can't tell you how frightening this all was. We're in the year 2023 and this hatred toward women is still going on!

After my loss, I wrote this all up in a declaration - how Dahlquist treated me and how he tainted and confused the jurors - and Dahlquist accused me of lying on my declaration. I've never been more traumatized in my life.

Because I believed in justice, and I didn't want to come across as a "victim," I went against my intuition and didn't recuse Dahlquist much earlier in my case. I am only now reading these similar reviews and I am determined that I will never go against my intuition again just to appear like a "good and strong" person.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA41623
Rating:4.5

Comments:
~Judge Dahlquist needs to retire. He is the textbook example of crotchety old while male judge. He's misogynisitic. He's also LDS so he definitely does not respect women. I am a litigator in my 50s with 20+ years of experience and i have never been so humiliated as when Judge Dahlquist reamed me in front of other counsel in a hour long diatribe about civility. Unwarranted and inappropriate. I will paper him forevermore. You should too.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA41203
Rating:2.6

Comments:
Bias and creates his own storyline to withstand appeals. I agree avoid Dahlquist at all costs.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA39107
Rating:1.6

Comments:
Avoid the Judge at all costs. Ignores the law. Pre Judges the case before evidence comes in. Not open minded. Decisions are a means to an end.

Litigant

Comment #: CA38805
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Worse Judge Ever!!
I sued my neighbor for nuisance in 2021. I had HOA President and another HOA member come testify that they were in my home and heard loud noises coming from upstairs on several occasions. I had a San Diego Police Officer testify that he told Defendant to turn down her surround system on three calls. He also testified that he had to turn his body camera on because of Defendants hostile demeanor. I had friends and family testify that the noise coming from upstairs was a nuisance.
The Judge ruled against me. UNBELIEVABLE! I believe had I had a court reporter the Judge would have had no choice but to render a different verdict. It was obvious the Judge had his own agenda. It is no wonder Lady Justice is covering her eyes. She is disgusted at our justice system.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA35775
Rating:3.8

Comments:
I always read these reviews, but take them with a grain of salt and form my own opinions. I told myself it would be okay, he went to Brigham Young, he must be a reasonable guy. I was wrong. He is biased. He allows his personal opinions to invade the case. He is sexist. He chooses favorites and ignores all evidence and law that does not support his chosen victor, literally refusing to allow testimony and refusing to accept documents into evidence that favor the other side. He refuses to resolve key factual disputes. He ignores the law and the law of the case. He has no problem issuing inconsistent rulings. He uses "judicial discretion" to execute his extreme bias. I will challenge this judge if I ever draw him again. I always say North County has the best judges...he is the exception.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA31773
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Worse judge I have ever seen. I don’t think he was even listening . We lost our case when truly the defendant was at fault and committed fraud when we bought our home from him. The defendant was a con man and a crook but this judge missed it entirely.

Other

Comment #: CA31151
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
this judge sucks took all my kids away from me pro father judge beware!!

Litigant

Comment #: CA19552
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Dahlquist makes Draconian look like a perfect angel. Due to Dahlquist getting reckless with his personal feelings, no justice came forth from Dahlquist’s ruling.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA18859
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Judge Dahlquist makes the tough calls in his courtroom and obviously the loser will be unhappy. He doesn't set out with a predisposition and calls the balls and strikes according to the law and equity.

Litigant

Comment #: CA15870
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge should be investigated. Unfairly sided with the insurance company. Disrespectful to my attorney. Changed my belief in the justice system.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA14063
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Rage-aholic

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA8885
Rating:1.0

Comments:
The worst judge I have appeared before in 24 years. In our civil case he was clueless, defensive, irrational, biased. Thought he was the smartest one in the courtroom, he was far from it. So intimidated by experts he had to engage them posing absurd questions which bbth counsel objected to. He is clearly the least knowledgable civil judge (federal or state) I have ever shared a courtroom with. He is an embarrassment to the San Diego County bench and the practice of law. Shameful, absolutely shameful.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA8821
Rating:8.4

Comments:
In my limited experience before Judge Dahlquist, he was fair, polite, well-versed and seemed to get all the matters I heard him decide right. (Including mine).

Litigant

Comment #: CA8066
Rating:1.0

Comments:
He is biased, mostly in favor of male attorneys. He is outright rude to Pro. Per. litigants. He has a policy of not issuing TRO's and is predispose to rule on matters without reading the moving or opposing papers, he often rules on matters under the guise of using his "Discretionary Powers." Do not even try to disqualify him under CCP Section 170.6, he will totally disregard the provisions under section 170.3. He will rule on his own disqualification, and even if he fails to comply with sec. 170.3(3) within the 10 days allowed, and is thereby deemed to have consented to the disqualification, per 170.3(4), he will continue to preside in all subsequent matters in the case. Of course his future rulings are 100% predictable. He often wears two hats: pretends to be judge for both parties, but often acts as advocate for his favored party. He often substitutes his own argument for that of the favored party, even when the favored party did not raise that argument. He is a controlling freak. His favored party's attorney can lie in open court with impunity. He will not accept any documentary evidence that would prove his favored male attorney lied and abused the judicial process. My Petition for Write of Mandate on the 170.6 Motion is now pending in the State Supreme Court.
My rating of this judge as 1, was overly generous, it should be a MINUS 10. This judge is a disgrace to the Court.

Civil Litigation - Govt.

Comment #: CA7247
Rating:3.3

Comments:
If you get this judge, just give it up. No justice will be done. His bias and prejudicial stance prevented me from even presenting case. Three days wasted before he would seat a jury and I am given less than 20 minutes to lay foundation, background and experience.

Litigant

Comment #: CA6608
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
If you are plaintiff and drawl this judge, save your money avoid him. He exerted himself and successfully intimidated me from speaking regarding my case in court.

Litigant

Comment #: CA6607
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Very poor consideration to plaintiff. Could not enter into evidence motions and testimony. He seemed to get lost and was dependent upon attorneys to keep him on track. He is easily confused and anti-plaintiff. No justice in this court, just mis-managed process.

Other

Comment #: CA6601
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge is the reason people do not expect justice from our legal system. His judgment and performance was nearly that of an idiot. Certainly, if you village is missing one, he is a good substitute.
He wasted 3 days before setting a jury and then his need to make up speed precluded meaningful foundational testimony on professional qualifications and other relevant testimony. There was no way to get plaintiff evidence in record to complete record consistent with jury instructions.
Do not expect justice in this court, just hot air in a robe.

Other

Comment #: CA5220
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge took my 3 children away from me at an expatriate hearing with no notice to me. He is PRO father and should lose his robe. He ruined my life forever its been 10 years since and my children still wont talk to me. Thanks Judge D.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA4660
Rating:1.4

Comments:
This judge is very pro-defendant. If you are not a defendant, then beware. He is very close-minded, and if you try to argue with Judge Dahlquist, he will dig his heels in even more, and look for any way to support his tentative ruling. Also, he is very arrogant, and he lectures some attorneys. I have never seen him take anything under submission, either. Regarding his research attorney, I completely concur with the poster down below. I'm glad to know that I was not the only one that she called screaming. She also had the nerve to tell me that she was taking one of my motions off the calendar because it was moot. It was not moot. They have also "lost" some of my moving papers -- it is a very disorganized department. At all events, now I know to 170.6 this judge any time I get a case assigned to him in the future.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA4376
Rating:8.9

Comments:
This judge is a superb jurist. I was concerned when I read the posts below. Fortunately, I was assured by trusted colleagues that with Judge Dahlquist, "if you are right, you will win; if you are wrong, you will lose." My experience before Judge Dahlquist entirely corroborated the assurances of my colleagues. He always had good reasons for his determinations, he kept a calm demeanor throughout the litigation, and his judicial instincts were spot on. I can't speak for the experiences of those who posted below, but my experience in Judge Dahlquist's court was very different from what others on this site have observed.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA4292
Rating:2.6

Comments:
I have never publicly criticized a judge before, but all attorneys need to know that Dahlquist is an awful judge. I practice equally between state and federal courts, and many attorneys find federal courts to have far superior judges. I have never fully bought into this school of thought until Dahlquist. He presided over a bench trial and it was very clear he had made up his mind before hearing any evidence. He would actively search for case law that supported his predetermined ruling. He is easily confused when opposing counsel intentionally muddies up the case. If you have a weak case and he is presiding, then over-complicate the issues and he will easily be lost. Additionally, if your client is impeachable from prior deposition testimony, don't be concerned because Judge Dahlquist's predetermined opinion will not be modified by impeachment of key witnesses. If you have a strong case I would never allow it to be heard by Judge Dahlquist. I am obviously appealing the ruling, but because there was no court reporter's transcript it will be an uphill battle. When a judge decides a case prior to hearing evidence, it is impossible to have a fair trial because counsel is litigating against the judge and not the opposition.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA4163
Rating:3.4

Comments:
In over 30 years of practicing in court, I have never had to routinely peremptory challenge a judge until my clients were repeatedly misserved by Judge Dahlquist. There is no question that he is smart, but he seems to think that he’s smarter than everyone else -- and, hence, has no reason to listen. He comes to the result that he wishes to achieve and ignores law and facts which cut the other way.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA3800
Rating:1.7

Comments:
This judge did not allow all of our evidence, ignored questions from the jury, and ignored questions from us. Made more exceptions for the defendants. Looked disinterested in our case. Was not up on this type of case law.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA2890
Rating:2.3

Comments:
Dahquist is clearly insurance defense biased.He comes from Latham & Watkins, the defense side.He is passive agressive.If you disagree with his "suggestions" he will try to punnish the litigant.
He fails to firmly rule on Motions in Limine, and allows the defense to ask questions in front of the jury that Can not be unrung,like irelevant personal questions about the plaintiff that invade the right of privacy and are not in issue in the case.All in violation of Hallendorf v Superior Court 85 Cal App 3d 553, and Britt v Superior Court 20 Cal 3d 844.
He prejudges the case & value, then tries to limit the case damages & medical experts to conform with his predetermined view of it before and during the trial.
He allows repeated depostions of witnesses,driving up the cost of litgation.
Importantly, he will side with the insurance co on legal rulings so as to avoid an appeal and force finality of a case.He wants the case done and will fail to follow the law to avoid a defense appeal even if it damages the plaintiff.
During a trial he will try to limit the the plaintiffs experts from critisizing the defense experts,so you fail to get milage out of your own expert when comparing experts opinions.
He will also try to set a negative tone towards the plaintiffs attorney and scold the plaintiffs lawyer in front of the jury,but not the defense lawyer.
He refuses to hold side bars on important issues.
He is afraid to make a firm ruling,and instead feigns that he is willing to listen only to use the newly gleaned information against you.He never changes his tenative rulings.
His reaeach attorney, Megan Teague will call & scream on the phone as to motions.She is irratic and will also gloat at her detrimental tenative rulings."So how did you you like my tenative ruling",like she is punishing you.He is poor on voir dire and soes not relate to people well,so attorneys get some lattitude on Voir dire..I am told he is Mormon. Avoid this Judge if you are a plaintiff.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA2600
Rating:1.6

Comments:
When asked for settlement discussions, he said he would not demand it, but if the other side wanted to, it was up to them. Any judge I have ever dealt with has always recommended settlement discussion, unbelievable!! He had his mind made up prior to a hearing, almost like he was paid off prior to, corruption is high within the court system! Sad that we live in a country that has lost site of justice for all, not justice for who the judge chooses because of a pre determined bias!!

Other

Comment #: CA2569
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Biased, Biased, Biased...he does the court a huge diservice and worst does not allow true justice for all!!

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA2475
Rating:1.1

Comments:
This is the first, and hopefully last, I will ever have to comment negatively on a judge. Unfortunately this judge displayed a bias and demeanor against my client and I throughout the trial that I have never experienced and I have practicd in all California Federal Courts and various courts from San Diego to Siskiyou and Mendecino counties, and I have never having seen any thing like this. He was clearly out of his element and his uttter failure to understand the rules of evidence is the most shocking I have ever expereinced. At times, it was as if he had no clue as to what was going on during the trial and whenever he was challenged he struck back with vengence and disrespect. He was clearly annoyed each time I pointed out how wrong he was and cited a case or evidence in support. On one occassion in the middle of trial during a witness examination he abruptly stomped off and left the bench when I refused to provide an offer of proof for an unrelated witness. I strongly recommend that you consider challenging him immediately if you are assigned to his department. After trial, I spoke with a number of other attorneys, including a local prosecutor, who concurred he was one, if no the worst judges on that particular bench. I will never appear before him again and if I had the opportunity (which I won't) I would consider a CCP 170.1 just to see what kind of reaction I would get when I placed all of the comments and rulings he made during the trial before him. A really bad judge in every major category, and I'm sad to say this as I think very highly of our judiciary.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA1988
Rating:3.0

Comments:
This Judge prolongs the litigation at the expense of the parties,but pretexually claims he wants efficiency.He fails terribly at sanctioning the insurance defense for obvious delays, and failing to answer simple judical council interrogatories and compelling discovery, so they get away with excessive billing for obstructionism..Biased against plaintiffs. Challenge him per ccp 170.6.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA1186
Rating:3.7

Comments:
When he was in Family Court, he single-handedly caused the attorney fees in the case to double with rulings and judgments designed to prolong, rather than terminate the process. Maybe he didn't like the parties, but I would never appear before him again, period. Wouldn't take the chance.