"The Robing Room: CA State Judges

Hon. Michael P. Linfield	See Rating Details
Judge Superior Court
Los Angeles County	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 5.2 - 21 rating(s) Non-Attorney Average Rating: 3.0 - 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. Michael P. Linfield

Comments

Litigant

Comment #: CA55037
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
I don't agree with his prejudice toward women. I've been before him numerous times and can't say there is a basis for that accusation. He seems reasonable and even-handed. Wants both sides to have their say. The only time I saw a temper is when somebody willfully violated his order. He is a fair judge and yes I too believe he reads your pleadings.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA36891
Rating:1.0

Comments:
If you are a FEMALE ATTORNEY you MUST 170.6 him. I agree 100% with Comment #: CA25391. It is all personal. He didn't like my client from jump street and he did everything in his power to make Plaintiff look bad including doing a 180 on the law, he also overlooked facts that were blatant which didn't serve his narrative, and didn't care about the truth or how many lies we caught Defendant on.

Even during hearings I couldn't believe he ignored the facts and law that Plaintiff brought up and only listened to the Defendant's attorney. Until I began reading these comments I thought I was going crazy. Now it all makes sense. Completely ignores the facts. Completely ignores the law. Judge Linfield is biased against female attorneys. I agree with another commenter that he bent over backwards for the other MALE side, the plaintiff. Don't know if this is because I am a woman, but that seems to be a problem for him. He is SANCTION happy. I hope someone mistreats him as he has mistreated me and my client. What comes around goes around.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA29540
Rating:2.0

Comments:
If you are a defendant, you MUST 170.6 him. See the published CA Court of Appeal opinion finding that Linfield committed a “series of grave errors” that were “cumulative and highly prejudicial” to the defense and that evidenced “the trial court’s inability to remain impartial.” The appellate court reversed and called his actions a "miscarriage of justice." See Pinter-Brown v. Regents of the Univ. of Cal., 2020 WL 1950808 (Apr. 23, 2020).

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA27956
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Judge Linfield is the best judge I've had in ten years of practicing primarily in Mosk. He reads everything and understands all of the arguments, and will go beyond what the parties have researched if they've missed something (which they often have) to ensure he's reaching the correct ruling. He is kind and patient and always appeared to me to be pretty even handed. But he also understands when litigants are being ridiculous, and he reins them in - always within the law and within his discretion, but he does. As far as I'm concerned, he's a hero.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA25405
Rating:6.9

Comments:
He will read your papers, but I get the sense that he lacks any business experience. Not a good judge for you if you have a complex business transaction in dispute. I would not 170.6 right away however, in light of the quality of judges we have now at Stanley Mosk....

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA25391
Rating:3.9

Comments:
This judge is all personal. If you do something he doesn't like, including something in the course of the litigation itself that has nothing to do with the merits of your claim, he will find every opportunity to nail you on a technicality or some other nonsensical and idiosyncratic issue pertaining only to his courtroom to prejudice your client. His knowledge of the law is limited, and his facility working with case law is poor. His heart is in the right place, as many have noted, but he is not pro plaintiff by any means, because the things that annoy him the most usually arise because of the hardships that will typically arise in a typical plaintiff's attorney practice (difficulty reaching the client, difficulty communicating with client, time and resource imbalance vis-a-vis defense counsel, conflicts due to volume, etc.). His legal history presentations before his calendar are not appropriate and frankly, juvenile and condescending (is anyone actually interested in this man's amateurish take on legal history and other pablum?). He is the definition of arbitrary and capricious, although, if you have a strong discovery practice he can be useful to leverage your case because he almost never denies discovery motions, and will bend over backwards to sanction attorneys. The latter fact presumably arising out of the conflict between his self-perception as a crusader for justice and the reality of his mediocrity in legal scholarship. I'm a 99.9% plaintiff's lawyer and I approve this review.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA17678
Rating:4.6

Comments:
Civil rights defense lawyers good luck. You don't stand a chance. Linfield begins preaching to your jury as soon as they are impaneled. He will show a civil rights slide show to them in court. I'm being serious here. He shows them a slide show and tells them the "arc of truth bends toward justice" or some such BS. He shows slides of him with MLK Jr and implies that litigants whose rights were violated will have their day in court with him. In other words, he is on the side of plaintiff. Then he excludes evidence that shows that Plaintiff was dishonest because to show that would be too prejudicial.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA15203
Rating:9.9

Comments:
Judge Linfield is a very good judge. He listens and I can tell he reads the briefs. There should be more Judges like Judge Linfield. I am confident that I will get a fair trial for my clients if the case remains before Judge Linfield. He keeps his cool which puts the attorneys focus on the relevant issues. Great Judge!

Litigant

Comment #: CA14745
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Like the evaluator, Jane Ellen Shatz, that suggested custody for my ex husband who was tested to have a multiplicity of disorders, judge Michael’s license to practice law should be revoked. In addition to losing her license to practice psychology, if she ever wanted to practice again had to submit to its logical testing(MMPI-2) we believe she has mental illness and there is a great chance so does Judge MUCHAEL LINFIELD.!

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA14744
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Fairness and rule of law is immaterial for this judge. Only his personal agenda

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA12841
Rating:3.0

Comments:
He's a punitive little man. Does not issue rulings based on the law but rather on his personal feelings. Really just a waste of a bench seat. I'm sure he could be easily overturned on 90% of his decisions except that it doesnt make financial or practical sense to take it up on writ. Ding him if you get the chance

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA12767
Rating:2.5

Comments:
Not evenhanded or fair. Makes decisions based on his own personal agenda or worldview.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA12765
Rating:4.4

Comments:
He probably is a Communist; if not, definitely a Socialist

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA12764
Rating:10.0

Comments:
One of the best judges in CA, and maybe in the US. Very smart and evenhanded. Actually reads the briefs from both sides and listens to the oral arguments by both sides and makes a decision that both sides can readily accept. I will vote and donate for this judge to go elevated.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA12637
Rating:9.8

Comments:
I recently had a litigation case with Judge Linfield. When you enter his court room, he actually shows the audience a video and summary of what has occurred today in the history of law, such a famous decisions and the significance in the law, which speaks to his dedication to the field of justice. I found him to be very nice, even tempered, intelligent. His department took the time to draft detailed tentative opinions on motions so that each side could understand the opinions.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA11550
Rating:3.8

Comments:
He makes up his mind about the parties ahead of the case. Does he google them? The party has no chance after he's decided they don't deserve their day in court.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA11549
Rating:8.9

Comments:
I have been a trial lawyer doing complex trials in business and torts. completed a long cause matter sent to this Judge in January 2017. complex malpractice claim for casatrophic injury (quadriplegia) against Los Angeles Hospital and Doctors. SUMMARY I would try any case to this Judge. He was very fair to both sides. He was intelligent and researched, HIMSELF, the law and in MICRA that was not simple. He ruled against us on several important points but he was always well reasoned and fair. We did prevail and he was careful to assure the settlement reached after trial was fully enforceable. He clearly became a judge out of a sense of mission - to do the right thing and bring honor and fairness to every hearing. I would trust him with my own case if i were a litigant.

Other

Comment #: CA11505
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Untrustworthy, biased, lazy - an embarrassment to the court

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA11376
Rating:10.0

Comments:
I have had several matters before Judge Linfield and have tried two cases to him. I am a female attorney, and it is absolutely untrue that he is biased against women. He is a fair and studious Judge. One of the best in Los Angeles County.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA10684
Rating:3.6

Comments:
Stay away. Biased. Ignorant and stubborn. Does not know what he does not know.

Other

Comment #: CA9047
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Stay away. Biased and untrustworthy.

Other

Comment #: CA8963
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Patient, compassionate, fair, intelligent, and with a sense of humor. He is what a judge should be!

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA8524
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
I agree with previous comment: law and facts are meaningless for Judge Linfield. You will do better with Judge Judy and certainly with jury. Avoid bench trial with Linfield. Run for your life.

Litigant

Comment #: CA8164
Rating:2.0

Comments:
A word of advice if you have Judge Linfield preside over your trial..... He is not objective. He does not follow the law or let law guide his decisions. He is more guided by his personal feelings about a case. If you have a bench trial with Linfield, think of it as a jury trial. His personal feelings will matter more than law.... as it would with a jury trial. A bench trial with Linfield will be more like Judge Judy or People's Court TV. His decision will not solely be based on law or past trials. In fact, I would say law and case law is almost meaningless to him. Good luck!

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA7203
Rating:1.0

Comments:
An embarrassment to our judicial system with clear and obvious personal prejudicial practices. He rightly acknowledges the incredible, unparalleled and phenomenal work of Dr. Martin Luther King yet hypocritically judges others. Dr. King is turning in his grave.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA5937
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
He is a dangerous biased judge. Dangerous because he hides it well. He will disregard the law and trap the lawyer into waiving issues on appeal.
Agree with previous comments. Judge Lingield is biased against female attorneys and litigants.
I would 170.6 this judge in any case.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA5716
Rating:3.0

Comments:
Bent over backwards for the other side, the plaintiff. Don't know if this is because I am a woman, but that seems to be a problem for him.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA5677
Rating:1.0

Comments:
He dislikes women!

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA5676
Rating:1.0

Comments:
He dislikes women!

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA1218
Rating:8.4

Comments:
Excellent trial judge with a very pleasant demeanor and strong educational background.