"The Robing Room: FL State Judges

Hon. Maria de Jesus Santovenia	See Rating Details
Circuit Court
Miami-Dade County 11th Circuit	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 3.5 - 19 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. Maria de Jesus Santovenia

Comments

Litigant

Comment #: FL9588
Rating:10.0

Comments:
I have practiced law for over 30 years. In the last few years, I have had the pleasure in practicing in Judge Santovenia's courtroom. On every occasion, I have observed Judge Santovenia treat everyone with respect and professionalism. She takes the time to really understand each case and the applicable law. She also moves her cases appropriately and is fair with her rulings.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL9341
Rating:10.0

Comments:
I have been a civil litigator for a long time … longer than, it seems, some of these puerile commenters have been alive. I practice in state and some federal courts across the country. By my experince, Judge Santovenia has been a great judge. She has been dutiful, she has read, and she has endured to make the right decision, even when not favorable to me. I regret that with her move to probate I will not have her on my cases.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL9327
Rating:1.0

Comments:
She has a well deserved reputation as a loud, rude, and opinionated judge with absolutely no basis for her arrogance.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL9322
Rating:1.0

Comments:
` One of the worst Judges I have ever had in almost 20 years of practice. Clearly does not read the motions, and often did not even understand what was happening in the hearing. God help those in Probate, this Judge needs to come off the bench. She picks a favorite and ignores the law.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: FL8557
Rating:1.0

Comments:
One of the worst judges to ever sit on the The 11th Circuit. Lazy, stupid, incompetent and biased. Yet, she keeps getting re-elected. So much for the Dade electorate.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL8556
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Unearned arrogance defines this judge. She is loud and overbearing when she should be listening and learning. I am astounded at her misapprehension that she is the smartest person in the room. She really needs to understand that the attorneys that appear in front of her know their cases and the applicable law much, much better than she.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL8050
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge is nasty, rude and condescending to attorneys and litigants. Never reads anything. Has no clue about the case she is making a ruling on. If she likes you great, if she doesn't like you forget it. Like the other commenter stated, she shoots from the hip. If you piss her off in any way forget it as she will rule by emotion. Case law and precedent means nothing to her. If you piss the bailiff off he will put you last on the calendar. God forbid you go beyond 5 minutes at motion calendar the Bailiff will cut you off and escort you out of the courtroom pre covid. Her motion calendar calls pre-covid were a rodeo round up and inefficient. These positive commenters must be talking about another judge. This judge can't handle complex anything. The voters should speak the next election should this judge be challenged.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: FL7484
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Judge Santovenia is wicked smart, fair, and it is a pleasure to practice law in her court. Any negative comments about her must be from losers. Every lawsuit has a loser who will look to blame somebody, but it's not this Judge.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL7437
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge is arrogant without cause for it. She is often ill-tempered, always unprepared, and never judicious. She will keep the administrative judges busy with motions to transfer out of her division.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL7365
Rating:1.0

Comments:
God forbid!

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL7364
Rating:10.0

Comments:
One of the very best judges anywhere. Always prepared, smart as hell, punctual, treats lawyers evenhandedly on both sides, and always courteous. Wish we could clone Judge Santovenia. She would be terrific in the complex division or the appellate court.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL7336
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge lacks a basic knowledge of civil procedure and any foundation regarding Florida law. She simply isn’t fit for the position of a law clerk... let alone a judge. She’s also an emotional terrorist to litigants and attorneys. Another Miami-Dade failure. On the upside your case will be so rife with error no matter the result so it will be overturned on appeal. By then you’ll have a shot at being assigned a competent judge.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL7334
Rating:2.2

Comments:
Does not read anything. Has come to motion and special set calendars completely blind and unprepared. Completely ignorant of basic judicial tenets of the law. Ignores precedent, whether binding or even from the supreme court. Very temperamental and shoots from the hip. Lets other side ramble ad nauseum.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL7320
Rating:10.0

Comments:
I have always found Judge Santovenia to be prepared for a hearing. She is very knowledgeable, intelligent and fair in her rulings. She will hear both sides of every argument and ask for supporting case law from the parties before making a decision.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL7319
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Judge Santovenia is an excellent Judge who is fair, intelligent, prepared and who has never forgotten the pressures and reality of being on the other side of the bench as a practicing lawyer.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL7290
Rating:2.0

Comments:
Judicial Terrorist who completely ignores Motions which are filed and does not prepare for hearings. In addition, she does not appear to know the law nor does she wish to be informed of it.

Litigant

Comment #: FL7030
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Wicked witch on wheels.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL7026
Rating:1.5

Comments:
This Judge is never prepared and does not know the law or simple terms. As an example, I had to explain what a dec action was and how discovery is necessary in order to prosecute same. She has consistently ignored binding 3rd DCA cases that are directly on point. She rules in any direction that will remove the case from her docket without regard for the law, usually against plaintiffs. I watched her rule over a construction defect case I was not involved with, where she asked the plaintiff, remind me what 558. says. Which is the controlling construction defect statute. She really needs to be challenged as she does not know the law and ignores it when informed.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL6928
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge is rude and condescending to all attorney. She doesn't read any pleadings. Shoots from the hip. If she likes you then you win. If she doesn't like you good luck. She shouldn't be a judge with this temperament. Her bailiff cuts you off if you go beyond 5 minutes on the motion calendar. She dresses attorney's up and down if you don't have the answer she wants.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL6563
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge is scarily ignorant. She has no shame in showing bias and loves to chew attorneys out and overreact. She doesn't seem sane.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL4084
Rating:1.0

Comments:
awful, awful, awful judge. no intellect whatsoever, balanced only by her total incompetence and lack of any sense of fairness. should be challenged asap.