"The Robing Room: CA State Judges

Hon. Rafael A. Ongkeko	See Rating Details
Judge Superior Court
Los Angeles County	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 5.5 - 6 rating(s) Non-Attorney Average Rating: 5.0 - 2 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. Rafael A. Ongkeko

Comments

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA52127
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Ongkeko has only lasted at LASC because they keep bouncing him around departments. His tentative rulings post too late (if at all) to be of any use, and his impatience for hearing a good argument lets pandemonium rule his courtroom, so only the most thunderous voice will be heard, regardless of what is said, its content or relevance. Damn shame.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA23158
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Has been reassigned temp to long cause. OMG. Long cause for a fellow who seems to be mentally on vacation all of the time. Calif. courts have hit a even a lower low than even considered possible. Fellow show retire already. 170.6 or consider having a case in his court room for years!!

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA18372
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge is both dumb and lazy. Are the standards for a judge that low? The guy even admits to not knowing anything about law. I guess he can't be bothered to learn about it as it would be too great an inconvenience for this guy.

Litigant

Comment #: CA12285
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Fair and impartial,allows non lawyers to adequately present their cases within reason and is very attentive to details. In my opinion treats every case on its own merits and reads what is presented to him.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA12283
Rating:8.2

Comments:
Judge Ongkeko is calm, has a judicial temperament, reads the papers, let's counsel be heard within reason, issues tentative opinions when he can and keeps control over his courtroom. I don't always agree with his decision but I think he is a good judicial officer

Civil Litigation - Govt.

Comment #: CA10856
Rating:1.6

Comments:
Worst judge ever. No respect for religious holidays. A complete bully. Make sure you have a court reporter to transcribe everything. He gives directives and then insists he never said that 10 minutes later. Honestly this guy is a joke and should be banned from a courtroom.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA9925
Rating:2.9

Comments:
Honestly the worst jury trial judge experience. Coached inept defense counsel. Continually refused to rule on pretrial and trial motions. Made erroneous rulings then had to reverse himself after additional argument. Dismissed the jurors to early and caused a mistrial after 2 years of litigation and 2 weeks of trial, right before the plaintiff rested. Burned through $100K in trial litigation costs causing client financial ruin. Honestly don't understand how this judge's brain works or what motivated him to do so poorly. I really wanted to like this judge but he clearly favoured the defense and made rulings to help them time after time. Awful.

Court Staff

Comment #: CA9642
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
In response to the last comment. There is no legal system in this country. It's an illusion-take it or leave it. It's based on not the truth but what type of acting performance is delivered that day. It's a variety show. I haven't really an opinion as to Judge Ongeko but in general it's a mean world out there. Keep your eyes wide open and your purse strings securely tied because everyone wants a piece of that. Believe in yourself.

Other

Comment #: CA5910
Rating:1.0

Comments:
He seems like a person who is bipolar. Unfair, unjust, and inconsistent. He does not consider the due process of a trial. He allows attorneys to waste valueable trial time with motions that are based on lies to extend and purposely sabotage the trial. He is the reason that citizens do not believe in the legal system of this country.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA5793
Rating:9.4

Comments:
Judge Ongkeko has taken over Judge Sohigian's cases. He is very fair, calm, and thoughtful. He formerly represented the County on employment cases, but has no pro-defendant bias, and knows employment law well. Good judge.