"The Robing Room: FL State Judges

Hon. Michael G. Takac	See Rating Details
Circuit Court
Lake County 5th Circuit	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 2.1 - 11 rating(s) Non-Attorney Average Rating: 2.0 - 16 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 G. Takac

Comments

Other

Comment #: FL9023
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Horrible very one sided wouldn’t let you speak but let the other party ramble on. Poor judgment will not look at any evidence that’s actually proven and provided. There is not enough time or room to go on about how bad of a judge this man is. He was shopping for a car during my case!?

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL8505
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This guy has no clue. He doesn't let the lawyers litigate and rams his opinions and rulings down their throat. Arrogant.

Other

Comment #: FL8386
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This man is awful and should be disbarred! Rules on feelings and is BISAED! Everything stated below is true. This Judge shows the utmost unprofessional and biased OPINIONS. He picks a side and will not hear evidence and does not show care for the other human whom is fighting to be able to live also. He will not listen to the attorney on his opposing side. Has no one brought these issues to the bar? How has not been formally disciplined?

Other

Comment #: FL8240
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Absolutely the worst judge on the planet! Biased, unprofessional and downright rude. Chooses a side and sticks with them no matter what. Will not allow opposing side to speak and always rules against them. An absolute disgrace.

Other

Comment #: FL8154
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Everything y'all have stated is true. I'm not gunna repeat. Cause how many times do we actually to repeat our selves. This man is rude, bised, and a disgrace to the bench. But he really needs to be stopped.

Other

Comment #: FL8003
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Very unprofessional. He dismisses evidence provided by victims and plays favorites. Unless you have money and a good lawyer, this man is impossible.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: FL7835
Rating:1.3

Comments:
Does not handling hearings properly. Greatly pressured parties to resolve instead of having hearings. He was unfamiliar with the laws and rules of procedure.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL7147
Rating:1.1

Comments:
In a recent opinion dated June 25, 2019, Judge Takac was reversed by the Fifth District Court of Appeal. Before terminating supervision and relinquishing jurisdiction, Judge Takac failed to perform a best interests analysis or address issues of timesharing at the hearing. He permanently awarded custody to a parent without considering a mother's motion for reunification. The case is L.S., Mother of L.S.-M vs. the Department of Children and Families and the Case No. is 5D19-0570. The court made is clear that Judge Takac neglected to follow FLorida Statutes and caselaw in refusing to take evidence or to make findings that the mother (who completed her case plan) would either endanger the child or whether its determination to deny a parent contact with her child would be in the child's best interests. In other words, this is a clear dereliction of duty. Judge Takac needs to find other work.

Other

Comment #: FL6768
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Judge Takac is the most unprofessional and bullying judge I’ve ever seen. He is a disgrace to his profession. He would be terminated if he worked in corporate America.

Other

Comment #: FL6646
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I had text messages,police reports, counselor notes stating the threats I was receiving, he refused to issue an Injunction and said to call the police next time it happens. The police said they can't do anything with threatening calls unless an Inj is in place. His response, police shouldn't be giving legal advice. A giant disgrace to Lake County.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: FL6539
Rating:1.0

Comments:
A disgrace to the justice system!!!

Litigant

Comment #: FL6538
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Out right lier in my case over my granddaughter and the testimony to prove it!!! Has no consideration for separating the young child from her family and the one and only living sibling that she has, ( he must have physiological disorder from his past as a child and total disregard for family)he should be challenged and recused from the bench permanently!!! Horrible in the choices he makes and can’t remember from one day to the next for his actions!!! I would love to challenge this judge with the right attorney!!!

Litigant

Comment #: FL6532
Rating:5.0

Comments:
Have gone in front of him twice as a respondent as my wife has filed 2 DV INJ against me to gain an edge in custody, both were soo outrageous that she did not even make the same allegations in her filing as she did in court as I had text and phone recordings proving she was lying, The Judge didn't even read the damn thing otherwise he would of called her out. Both were thrown out after about 2 minutes of the hearing, really pissed he did not hold her accountable. The first hearing he was full of piss and vinegar, the second hearing I was expecting more as her lies were worse...nope he was real calm and quiet...you don't know what your gonna get with this judge. He was fair in the sense of his ruling, not in how he holds people making false statements accountable. I honestly didn't see a bias towards men or women if that counts for anything.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: FL6443
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Abusive

Other

Comment #: FL6118
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
This judge is easily persuaded and is consistent in undermining his own peers by what he sees with no real knowledge or understanding of what goes on in an adoption case or does he follow the Florida State statutes. He sees it one way and that is his way regardless of anyone else but himself. He needs to be removed!!!

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL5918
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Takacs is like Barney Fife - the TV cop who should never be given a gun. A woman was sexually attacked by her husband in her home on the evening before he served her divorce papers. Takac's granted relief to protect the woman - supposedly. When her lawyer asked for exclusive temporary possession of the marital home (so she would be safe in her home), Takac's said "I'm not going to remove him from his own house -for this. They can BOTH stay in the house, but he has to stay at least 25 feet away from her." Takac's is dangerous as a judge and he is just as arrogant as Barney Fife on TV. His staff and at least one clerk (in years past) agree he is a horrible judge and needs to go. He gets my vote for worst judge in Lake County, if not for Florida.

Other

Comment #: FL5917
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge is an egomaniac who has no desire to hear or understand any facts in his cases. He asks questions and when trying to answer, starts yelling at the top of his voice to bully everyone in the court. He has ordered children back into sexually and physically abusive situations with no regard for truth or the welfare of the child. His staff have bets going for how late he will be each day. This maniac should be disbarred immediately. What a disgrace to our justice system.

Other

Comment #: FL5904
Rating:10.0

Comments:
I was awake all night stressing over my hearing the night before after reading the horrible stories here. I had 5 injunction hearings prior to mine that I was able to witness. I felt the rulings were very fair. It did not seem that Judge Takac was in favor of the men at all, but rather in favor of the law and safety of the petitioner. The judge I saw was nothing like the monster described here. Do not believe these reviews. This judge is very fair and compassionate.

Other

Comment #: FL5361
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Very rude and talks down to women. Favors men in custody cases. Never allows full testimony without interruptions. Even when the men in his court are bullies and have a history of threats and abuse, they receive his favor. Truly sickening to watch. This Judge is a disgrace to the bench and to the citizens of Lake County. Sadly, many children will suffer from this arrogant judge.

Other

Comment #: FL5251
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Complete disregard for the law end of story. Favors men in custody hearings. (I'm a man) Incompetent and vitally impossible to follow rulings. Continuously interrupts and is arrogant. Disregards evidence and court procedure. Retains cases he was rotated off of. [Redacted by Editor] Will side with the man in a custody case even if there is abuse involved. No regard for a child's well being or best interest. He drags out cases for years that should have ended at summary judgement. (Was no case) If you are woman and are assigned Judge Takac, ask him to recuse himself immediately. He mocks and ridicules witnesses and attorneys.

Other

Comment #: FL5222
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
This judge is a complete disaster. Does not follow the law and prejudges the case prior to hearing all the facts. If you are a male who shows up well dressed and have a case against a woman who seems happy with life, you are in luck!!! He yells, interrupts, does not follow proper procedure. He will question litigants in front of their attorneys and will make them agree with him so that he can "justify" his illegal reasonong. Completely pathetic to watch. I am embarrassed for him.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL5035
Rating:2.0

Comments:
Very disappointed. He treats attorneys rudely and bungles even small cases. Makes small cases expensive to clients, then blames the lawyers for delay. His rulings miss the mark by a country mile and makes the results worse for litigants than if they never came to court in the first place. He doesn't understand the seriousness of domestic violence against women (or men). Broken clocks are on time twice a day, but not Judge Takac. I have watched this guy for years, and he never gets it right. Bring a court reporter and, if the case is important, recuse him. Not even his staff seem to respect him. I respect the bench, but I can't respect him. Lake County deserves far better and couldn't get much worse.

Other

Comment #: FL4542
Rating:3.0

Comments:
I sat through 6 or more petitions for restraining orders in Judge Takacs courtroom. He would not listen to anyone that had a petition and would not let them explain. He seemed to show favortism toward the persons that were not on the side of the law. The bailif was friends with the person "fellon" we were trying to bring before the court and the judge let her chat and assure them openly they would win. At the end she walked up to the people and said "See you won!" We let the judge know this person was threating us with a gun and the person admitted he was a fellon to the judge and nothing was done. What kind of court system is this?

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: FL4162
Rating:1.6

Comments:
He does not go by law, Florida or Civil Code. He instigates litigation and has no idea what is going on. He cannot handle cases and does not are about truth, honesty, or what he costing innocent litigants by the games he plays in court. He is the worst Judge I have ever encountered.

Litigant

Comment #: FL4107
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Unfortunately, he either does not understand the Florida Statutes or simply chooses not to follow them. The law is the law and Judge Takac needs to take a refresher course. And his personal comments, tardiness and obvious bias toward women are very unethical...disappointing and disturbing.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: FL3802
Rating:1.0

Comments:
The worst judge in Lake County and he will not follow the law, intentionally talks down to women and refuses to rule on cases. Needs to be removed from the bench before anymore lives are ruined.

Other

Comment #: FL3751
Rating:10.0

Comments:
This man does his job!!

Other

Comment #: FL3720
Rating:3.0

Comments:
He shows time and time again that he's more on the side of men in divorce proceedings and just can't make rational decisions. Can't wait to vote against him next term.

Other

Comment #: FL3712
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge is breaking his own court order and has no regard for helping people. He is unable to think through things rationally and people who work with him feel he is a Jerk to the public

Prosecutor

Comment #: FL3699
Rating:2.8

Comments:
Procedure and rules, why follow them?? He’s flies by the seat of his pants at his proceedings. Partial and unethical. Doesn't have the experience needed to be on the bench.

Other

Comment #: FL3634
Rating:5.0

Comments:
"Quirky" is what everyone says about him and that's very true. Nothing like the other seasoned judges that treat all cases pretty much the same.

Litigant

Comment #: FL3007
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
This judge is horrid and cares nothing for the best interests of children.