Comment #: CA22720
Rating:3.0
Comments:
Judge Crandall is a nice enough guy and likes to crack jokes etc., but he's probably past his prime -- his rulings are a few sentences, if you are that lucky, and do not provide any basis for his finding. He will make sure to split the baby in his discovery rulings, and even announces that both parties should be happy with his ruling because both sides get something. 170.6 unless you are ok with a judge that is mailing it in.

Comment #: CA17169
Rating:10.0
Comments:
I tried a case in front of Judge Crandall. Great judge. He is evenhanded and fair. I agree with the most recent post. He is a gem in Orange County and it was a real privilege to be in his courtroom. He allows you to try you case. He knows the evidence code and treats counsel and the jury with the utmost respect. He is also very personable and has a great sense of humor and is a lot of fun to be in front of during a lengthy trial.

Comment #: CA16998
Rating:10.0
Comments:
Judge Crandall is an exceptional figure in the OC Court. Hon. Crandall is fair, has outstanding temperament, and is exceptionally fair to all sides. I have never seen a more evenhanded judge who takes his role and job to be fair, judicious, just, and a consummate professional more seriously.

That being said, regreattably Hon. Crandall is a gem in OC Superior Court , which appears otherwise to be a pig sty of rather unscrupulous, unindustrious, biased, and flat apathetic judges like attorney-hobnobbing Judge Wilson and his Judge wife,and the cannabis enjoying Judge Di Cesari.

OC Courts need more judges like Judge Crandall to give litigants and the general public an opportunity to regain trust in the courts.

Comment #: CA13273
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Excellent judge who does his best to be fair to both sides. Exemplary judge who represents the best in our judiciary.

Comment #: CA12735
Rating:8.8
Comments:
I represented the defendant in a promissory note case. The plaintiff was in pro per but very capable. Judge Crandall gave the pro per plaintiff, who did not initiate an issue conference, did not exchange exhibits before trial, presented his exhibits at trial as a loose stack of documents, etc., significant latitude procedurally. This was a one-day court trial and Judge Crandall let the parties try their case, pro per plaintiff going significantly over his time estimates. However, Judge Crandall gently reminded both sides when they were leaving the core issues of the case, giving some latitude for collateral matters to be presented but keeping control of the case.

Ultimately, he ruled for the defendant because the defendant, my client, produced evidence indicating that although defendant's signature was authentic, had been "lifted" from another document because when held up in the light, aligned exactly with the signature on the challenged document. There were no experts on either side.

Judge Crandall ruled that because he was unable to determine whether the defendant placed his authentic signature on the disputed promissory note, plaintiff had not carried his burden of proof and ruled for the defendant.

Although I may be biased in this report, even before the ruling, I formed the opinion that Judge Crandall was giving both sides a very fair trial. He refused to agree with my argument that the signature was conclusively forged but held that he could not make a determination that it was placed there by the defendant, either. Judge Crandall is a very quick study as evidenced by his repeated mini summaries of the evidence during the trial, rulings on evidentiary objections, and ultimate ruling announced from the bench at the conclusion of the trial.