"The Robing Room: FL State Judges

Hon. Gisela Cardonne Ely	See Rating Details
Circuit Court
Miami-Dade County 11th Circuit	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 2.3 - 43 rating(s) Non-Attorney Average Rating: 2.0 - 10 rating(s)	Please send me alerts on this judge E-mail Address:

Add your own rating

E-Mail Address ()

* *

Confirm E-mail Address

* * *

Zip

Occupation

Add a comment only

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

Please type what you see below:

Not an even number!

What others have said about Hon. Gisela Cardonne Ely

Comments

Other

Comment #: FL6870
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
The court reporting community is so glad she is no longer on the bench. She is completely ignorant when it comes to making a record of proceedings. She doesn't even want a record. She was as difficult as possible for court reporters to deal with. Mainly telling them they couldn't record.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: FL5996
Rating:1.4

Comments:
Does not follow the law. Cares only about clearing her caseload.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL5864
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Manic rants do not procure winning judgements.
I had a good experience with this judge.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL5847
Rating:1.4

Comments:
If you're an attorney, you can make up your own law, and she'll sign orders enforcing your new law.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL5827
Rating:9.3

Comments:
Honorable Judge Cardonne Ely has retained her position on the bench because she recognizes the difference between real trial attorneys and shifty hustlers. She has minimal tolerance for the second. She is cognizant to what is going on.

Litigant

Comment #: FL5799
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Hard to believe but I have to agree with prior ratings by Attorney's. She is the worst Judge I have ever seen. Unfair, does not make good judgements, has no idea what is going on. Fails to lol at the evidence. She needs to be replace.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL5780
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Good judge, objective perspective. Does not tolerate EX PARTE communication. Firm disposition does not tolerate belligerent behavior. Not pedantic, however do not under estimate her knowledge of the rules and Florida Statues.

Litigant

Comment #: FL5779
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Fair judge objective perspective. Does not tolerate EX PARTE communication.

Other

Comment #: FL5778
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Good judge. Maintains appropriate boundaries.

Litigant

Comment #: FL5776
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Who cares who this judge married and who was her spouse! She should retire and leave well enough alone. She's bitter and incompetent. She plunders the rule of law and obviously has a negative reputation with those that have been in her courtroom. She's earned that reputation all by herself. The real estate laws have been on the books for more than 300 years which worked very well for all concerned but she ignores all those laws when it concerns her personal biases and I suspect her pocketbook. Banks have broken countless laws that appellate proceedings have favored hundreds of homeowners according to the laws. This judge cannot put her finger over the entire sun, her actions are super loud and deafening! She herself has created her bed! If she did what she's supposed to do and follow the laws on the books, she would be most favored and even honored by her constituents. Plain and simple.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL5773
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Honorable Judge Cardonne actually does more of an assessment then allot of you arrogant lawyers know. Yes she is conservative however she is bipartisan. The reason judges delay is to compel both parties to come to an amicable resolution as best as possible without abusing the courts time.

The lack of respect for our mature judges is sad. I have seen her run court with proper ettiquite and equal no ex parte communication.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL5739
Rating:1.7

Comments:
Out of every judge I've been before in Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, she is easily the one least likely to be apprised of the subject matter and most likely to openly ignore the law. This includes binding precedent from her appellate district. And she's condescending, even by judicial standards. Judges like this are why people distrust the legal system.

Other

Comment #: FL5624
Rating:10.0

Comments:
A lady that rules in a fair manner. Does not tolerate misconduct. Quiet yet observevant.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL5516
Rating:1.3

Comments:
She has horrible temper issues. She talks down to members of the bar and doesn't treat people with respect.

Other

Comment #: FL5415
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Quite poor! She expresses to be neutral but fails to read the pleadings to know the competentcy of them for pro se litigants. Ignores the defense and laws placed on those pleadings that covers and protect the pro se litigant in a foreclosure case. Fails to address contents of the pleadings and or allow the defendant to speak on the issues. Is only interested in moving to the next case even when specially set. Is biased towards homeowners.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL5414
Rating:1.0

Comments:
So I just drew Gisella as counsel in a case against my client. I'm ecstatic because drawing her means that nothing will ever get done in this case. She is the true embodiment of justice delayed is justice denied.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL4738
Rating:1.3

Comments:
The worst judge in Miami-Dade. If you are assigned to her court, seek recusal. Her decisions are based on personal feelings and not the law.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL4501
Rating:1.2

Comments:
Openly favors her CABA colleagues. She completely ignored my Motion for Sanctions, even though the attorney admitted his fault. When told what the case was about she rolled her eyes. She is the opposite of impartial, fair and unbiased. Judges like her make it easy to believe that there is no justice.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL3793
Rating:1.0

Comments:
She is among the worst judges in Miami-Dade county. She doesn't look at the facts, doesn't read the pleadings, and makes contradictory statements in her final judgment.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: FL3727
Rating:1.0

Comments:
There are a lot of stupid, lazy, and arrogant judges on the Miami-Dade County bench. Cardonne-Ely is easily in the top 5. She knows that no one will touch her because she has the full support of the CABA.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL3099
Rating:1.3

Comments:
As an attorney, it saddens me that so many of the individuals appointed or elected to the bench to serve and enforce justice and fairness are actually there for their own gain. I am astounded how so many judges either give the appearance of ignorance, or plain and simple corruption. I simply don't understand how Judge Cardonne Ely is permitted to continue on the bench. It is a complete travesty of the law -- and everything that it was designed to protect.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL2895
Rating:2.6

Comments:
Every time I appear before her she is discussing how she would rather be shopping, or going away, and how she is going to get out of doing the next trial or special set hearing she has.

Her rulings flout the law, and she does not seem knowledgeable about what the law actually is. This is only made worse by her pretentiousness; she frequently begins to make a statement or analogy that sounds intelligent without being able to complete her thought or analogy because its too complicated for her.

The shame is really in her lack of dedication and awareness of the law. Its all been said here before me.

Other

Comment #: FL2894
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge has no business hearing complex litigation. Although I must admit her ignorance has on occasion worked in my favor, her lack of dedication has no place on the bench. It's discouraging to all sides regardless of the outcome of the case.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL2743
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Not sure if this is true, but CE was recently worried that the foreclosure docket may impede her ability to try real cases. No worries CE...it's common knowledge that you don't try or rule on ANYTHING, regardless of whether it's a foreclosure or a more meaningful case.

Regardless, she is a very poor judge and is an embarassment to the profession (however, as warped as it sounds, I love drawing her in a matter in which I am defending and my client has no real defense to the plaintiff's claims). She can't leave the bench because no credible firm would ever hire her as an attorney or mediator. Hopefully, someone will run against her in the next cycle if she doesn't retire by then. Her pitch at any fundraiser as to why she should be re-elected would be an instant Youtube classic.

Litigant

Comment #: FL2719
Rating:1.0

Comments:
We were just finished coming to to a settlement in the hall when we were told to go into the courtroom to finish our talk, whereby the judge enters and announces how she is going to rule without even know the facts. It totally blew our settlement even when she acted surprised and started looking through the file papers when she realized she had her facts wrong.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL2475
Rating:1.0

Comments:
worst judge ever, lack of work ethic exceeded only by her arrogance

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL2473
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Still unbelievable that this judge did not draw an opponent in this 2012 election cycle. We're stuck with another 6 years of the worst judge in the state. A monkey would do a better job - - be brighter, more fair, more punctual, and more hard working. Too bad none were available this cycle to campaign.

Litigant

Comment #: FL2448
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
This judge lost our case file for 4 years in a municipal pension litigation case which happens to involve the city where she lives. Her ruling which came after a settlement had taken place was moronic. This lady should not be on any bench except a park bench.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: FL2368
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
best i can tell you guys to do is do what i do, if i draw her, i file a motion to recuse based on her bias against me, the atty of record for the defendant (or plaintiff) as may be the case. or in the alternative, hope that it is complicated enough that you can get it transferred to that docket.

good luck.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL2367
Rating:2.4

Comments:
I am an attorney, and Judge Cardonne Ely is unfair, biased attoney in favor of Foreclosue Mill Plaintiff's counsel - Foreclosure Mills that have even been charged by Attorney General for Fraud and cited fr fraud in many, many foreclosue cases. On Motions to Dismiss, she does not work within the 4 corners of the Complaint, and she will allow Plaintiff's counsel to introduce documents at a Motion to Dismiss hearing without requiring Plaintiff's counsel to file an Amended Complaint and then still deny Defendant's Motion to Dismiss in favor of Plaintiff and gainst Defendant(s). Courts are overwhelmed with foreclosure cases, yet on a Motion to Dismiss that is heard 2 years after the filing of the Complaint where she allows docs that were not attached to Complaint to miracuously appear, istead of granting Motion to Dismiss and requiring Plaintiff to refile the cse and pay the court costs, she is part of the problem why our courts are back-logged and courts are understaffed nd underpaid (excpt for her). I do not have evidence yet, but I believe she has financial/investment ties to foreclosure mills ad banks. She also will schedule hearings that are 20 plus page motions with only 2 business day notice to Defendant's counsel because foreclosue mills asked favor to schedule nd despite conflict with Defendant's counsel schedule. In fact, as Defendant's ounsel, Iwrote about the very short notice and conflict which I had, I was assisting a pro bono 92 year old little old lady with hospital records and medica visit; yet, instead of correcting her violation of due process, s went ahead with hearing an allowed docs outside of four corner's of complain AT a motion to dimiss hearing. Moreover, she grants multiple extensions to Plaintiff's counsel tono amend their Complaint astey sould have done and pay court costs, but instead to reverify correctly the Complaint - she does this with NO notice of hearing and NO hearing in violation of my client's due process rights AND yt she will then, despie an Answer and Affimative Defenses filed in Court Docket, she will then enter a default against my foreclosure defendants without notice of hearing nor hearing (In a case in which I have appeared for more than a year as attorney for Defendants). When contacting her office about mistake of default, instead advised that Defendant's counsel mut spend unnecessary time and money of Defendant to file a Motion to Vacate Default. Surprisingly, the majority of my foreclosure cases are assigned to her - which makes me believe that Foreclosure Mills wait around with a stack of foreclosure cases and when they see/they ask foreclosure assitants at curt that process the paper who is next judge in line up for cases, then foreclosure cases handed to Judge Cardonne-Ely. In other cases, she does not rule based on the law, but on what she believes is fair - but her interpretation tends not to do any justice for anyone but create more delays and backlog of cases by her attempts to force mediation and then even Amended Complaints when she had only before only allowed reverification - but how do I explain to her the judge that what she is doing is wrong and that Plaintiff's new complaint did not only attach a new verification but also changed words an added documents - I CANT TELL HER BECAUSE SHE WILL ENTER ORDERS FOR PLAINTIFF WITHOUT NOTICE TO DEFENDANTS AND WITHOUT HEARING!!!!!!!! I hope someone runs against this poor example of a judge that thinks she is trying to be far, but then ends up cauing more damage to our legal system. JUST FOLLOW THE LAW, and only when the law laves rooms for interpretation, then try to do what you think is fair. BUT DONT MAKE UP YOUR OWN LAWS JUST BECAUSE YOU DONT LIKE THE LAWS.

Other

Comment #: FL2353
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Comment#FL2349 is obviously written by an illiterate person. He/she spells justice "justise" I agree with the prior comment about the rater being dead wrong. Cardonne Ely is a disgrace to the bench and very illiterate.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL2350
Rating:1.0

Comments:
the last rater is dead wrong and either works for her or was the beneficiary of her unfairness.

this is a rediculous rating, but proves that pt barnum was right you can fool some of the people some of the time.

Other

Comment #: FL2349
Rating:10.0

Comments:
This judge is very caring and fair. She makes me think that there is justise in this world after all. She considers the facts and, even though she is totally overloaded with cases, she takes the time to look at the pleadings and make a fair ruling. Many of this Circuit's "shoot from the hip" judges could take a lesson from her. Thank you, Judge Ely.

Other

Comment #: FL2318
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I will second that about all court reporters hate this judge. She does not allow reporters to have an audio recording for backup. This causes inaccurate transcripts and is a nightmare for court reporters. When attorneys start speaking over each other words are lost, unless you have an audio to fill in the holes. No two court reporters write exactly the same. They all have different abbreviations for things. When a reporter dies and there is no audio backup, the attorneys are screwed on getting an accurate transcript. Never trust a judge that will not allow themselves to be recorded during their proceedings. Court reporters throughout the city fight over who has to go to this nasty hag. It is malpractice on her part also. Attorneys should have the benefit of an audio in case they don't agree with the transcript.

Litigant

Comment #: FL2310
Rating:1.0

Comments:
She clearly has her "favorites" and ignores the law when making her rulings. In my case, she ruled for the other side every time and refused to recuse herself.
In a suit on a note wherein the law clearly states the note has to be produced she allowed it to go to court without the note and without a count to re-establish the note.

She cut my defense case short by a day stating that "she didn't have time." She didn't have time because she allowed them a day and half continuance on the start date of the trial while they went to pay the taxes on the note after we moved to dismiss because this pre-requisite had not been met after 2 years of litigation.

She is biased. If she is not on the take then she is stupid. Totally unqualified for her job. Solomon would find it just to cut her in half.

Other

Comment #: FL2296
Rating:1.0

Comments:
All court reporters hate this judge. She will not allow audio because she got caught saying things off the record she later tried to deny saying and was busted. She is totally dishonest. She is a disgrace to the bench. She is a total idiot that needs to be removed from the bench.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: FL1983
Rating:5.3

Comments:
zUjq5M , [url=http://gcioupckjeqs.com/]gcioupckjeqs[/url], [link=http://dwszufvzbihh.com/]dwszufvzbihh[/link], http://hnnxmepgemxy.com/

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL1891
Rating:1.0

Comments:
No, she doesn't read the robing room or anything else for that matter. loves the title, hates the job and hasn't done it for years. Will not retire voluntarily--someone needs to run against her--they would win in a landslide.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL1882
Rating:1.0

Comments:
One wonders if Judge Cardonne ever reads The Robing Room or the Bar polls. If so, let's hope that she gracefully retires in 2012 and let's someone else take over the position as the worst judge in Florida.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL1876
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Will someone please step up and challenge this judge in 2012? Anyone?

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL1874
Rating:1.0

Comments:
this lady is absolutely incompetent and should be removed

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL1840
Rating:2.3

Comments:
Asked if there was anything other than case law to justify our position!

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL1835
Rating:1.0

Comments:
frequently demonstrates bias in cases i have handled. ignores the law, especially when one of her friends is handing the case.

she should be removed as either incompetent or biased, either way it is an embarassment.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL1829
Rating:1.0

Comments:
It's a sad situation when, notwithstanding a career of consistently abyssmal Bar ratings, and open disdain by the legal community, this judge refuses to retire and, instead, continues to abuse her office on a daily basis. Contrary to those posts that refer to Judge Cardonne as "nice," but ineffective, incompetent, unqualified and generally useless, she's nasty and arrogant to boot. To coin the phrase of an earlier post, Judge Cardonne is the "poster child" for everything that a judge should not be.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL1772
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Judge Cardonne is the poster child for why judges should not be elected.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL1734
Rating:1.0

Comments:
By far and away the worst judge I have ever been in front of. She is frequently late, disrespectful to attorneys, does not seem to understand the law, interjects her own personal beliefs into the judicial system, and is flat out rude.
If ever there is a judge that is an embarrassment to the community she is it. A first year law student could do a better job than Judge Cardonne Ely.
I sincerely hope that someone challenges her when she is up for reelection. SHE NEEDS TO GO!

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL1711
Rating:1.0

Comments:
What a shame this website carries no negative ratings. Possibly the worst Judge on the bench. An embarrassment to the judicial. I hope that someone runs when she is up for re election. She is always late, she is never prepared.

This person is absolutely clueless, completely aloof to her responsibilities as a judge. She pulls rulings out of thin air not withstanding the law. I am afraid that if I had watched her in action prior to attending law school, I would of chosen culinary school instead.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL1704
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Hands down the most unprofessional judge in Miami Dade County. Her rulings are based on personal opinion not the law. Her staff is unhelpful. Speaking to her assistant is like dealing with a mentally handicap child. This is the worst division.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL1700
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Unprofessional, intemperate, rude, unprepared, unfair, partial, disorderly, undignified,incompetent.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL1597
Rating:1.8

Comments:
Disasterous judge. She is someone who has no place on the bench. Doesn't rule. Defers, cancels hearings after everyone has waited for hours, reverses herself. Just a total and complete train wreck.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL1475
Rating:1.3

Comments:
Nice person, but has no respect for the time of others. Motions are scheduled and cancelled with no notice. 2-3 hour waits are not uncommon. Will hear motions ex-parte when other counsel did not get notice. 4-6 month wait for special set is very common. Shows up late, leaves early. When calendar runs late because she arrived late, she cancels the rest and leaves the people waiting outside. If it runs late (because it starts late), and she is hungry, she cancels the calendar to go to lunch. It is hard to get her to make a ruling. When and if she does, she often forgets what she has done and enters contrary rulings until she is reminded and then she vacates her own rulings.
Her staff is unhelpful, and usually nasty. This is the worst division. She needs to be more professional.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL1398
Rating:1.3

Comments:
Nice person, but has no business on the bench. Her complete and steadfast refusal to make timely and often critical rulings creates chaos and increases the expense of litigation in her division. In the past, I agreed to a change of venue to get out of her division.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL1234
Rating:1.3

Comments:
Unfortunately, the lowest rating for the criteria is a one, particularly "industriousness" and "punctuality."

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL1160
Rating:2.7

Comments:
Rude and dismissive towards attorneys; tardy in showing up for motion calendar.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL274
Rating:1.9

Comments:
She never tries cases. If there is a close call, she will punt. She is almost never available. Good luck getting a special setting anytime soon. Many times, motion calendar is cancelled with no notice.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL268
Rating:2.8

Comments:
Not bad in trial but you can almost never get there. Her docket must be huge, because nothing gets resolved at motion calendar. It takes forever to get a special set hearing and special settings are then cancelled on a moment's notice for a wide variety of personal reasons. This adds years of delay to otherwise simple cases.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL238
Rating:1.8

Comments:
One of the worst. Time to move on. Seriously needs to be challenged the next go-round.