Hon. Melissa Souto See Rating Details

Circuit Court
Seminole County
18th Circuit
See Comments

Attorney Average Rating:   2.0 - 3 rating(s)
Non-Attorney Average Rating:   1.0 - 3 rating(s)
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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)
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What others have said about Hon. Melissa Souto


Comments


Other

Comment #: FL8962
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
The only Kind Face in this Ugly Business running under a Guise labeled Justice. I admire the fact that Souto can daily digest the garbage and pure Disgust I Experienced after being raked over the coals by a DA with a Napolean Complex larger than he will EVER be and on trial over a POS liar that received ALL the Attention he was NEVER Entitled to. How Souto can muster the Dignity to deal with this Eroded Judicial System is Beyond Me. Thank you for being Kind

Litigant

Comment #: FL8412
Rating:1.0
Comments:
Melissa Souto is a horrible excuse for a human. A single mom with baby-daddy issues, her ex-husband is BRADLEY SHERMAN and has a family law practice in volusia. You can hire him to get her automatically recused if she gets out of line. It's just one way to keep her in check. She has no business ruling over a family law court and taking her frustrations out on single Dads just because she's mad that BRADLEY SHERMAN doesn't love her anymore.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL8306
Rating:2.0
Comments:
Known by her peers and as someone else stated, a political hack and diversity hire. Should never have been appointed

Other

Comment #: FL7980
Rating:1.0
Comments:
Political hack and diversity hire.
Lightweight academic background, mediocre intellect.
Gets reversed a lot. For good reason.
Try to avoid if possible.
Almost any other choice is preferred.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL7493
Rating:1.0
Comments:
Does not consider evidence or professional recommendations from experts. She has no concept of how her rulings effect the people in her courtroom. Seems to have her mind made up before the proceedings even start. I have never witnessed someone so inept when performing their job duties.She has no business judging others.

Court Staff

Comment #: FL7390
Rating:2.0
Comments:
A total novice in her rulings. Does not take control of the room. Allows attorneys to persuade her without considering evidence. I watched as she allowed a lawyer to dictate her entire decision based on a mere suggestion and took almost two months to file it because she knew the ruling was unfounded and would just benefit a criminal’s defense. Does not deserve to sit on the bench in a civil court where children’s safety and family law is dictated.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL7216
Rating:3.0
Comments:
Rude, interrupts you, smirks when she thinks you’re wrong, does not want to hear or see your evidence once she’s made up her mind without it, clearly does not consider or care about the impact of her actions or how prejudicial her ruling is. Bring a court reporter, you’ll probably need it.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: FL6843
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Professional, punctual and polite.