"The Robing Room: MD State Judges

Hon. Lynn K. Stewart	See Rating Details
Associate Judge Circuit Court
Baltimore City County 8th Circuit	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 5.0 - 9 rating(s) Non-Attorney Average Rating: 1.0 - 9 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. Lynn K. Stewart

Comments

Other

Comment #: MD8094
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Needs to grow-up. No respect for the role, robe or law. Was the same individual as a prosecutor so, not sure how she managed judge. If those who voted, appointed or elected her judge knew anything, they never would have.

Other

Comment #: MD7223
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Inconsiderate, manipulates the law to her advantage, disrespectful and ride to lawyers and their clients (defendants). Cares less about the law, does what she pleases!

Other

Comment #: MD7219
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Horrible Judge!

Other

Comment #: MD7185
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Horrible Judge. Our court system does not need someone like her.

Other

Comment #: MD6841
Rating:1.0

Comments:
It’s hard to rate Judge Mays fairly as a judge when her behavior on the bench Was the most egregious I witnessed from an adult much less a judge. She clearly had a problem with Keith Davis Jr. defense attorney, she was so disrespectful to her I’m not sure how Mrs Latoya Francis Williamswas even able to function. She mocked her speaking, rolled her eyes, SCREAMED at her, objected to EVERY SINGLE ONE OF HER REQUESTS. I believe I even watched her assist the state with their case. I’ve set through Mr Davis’s last two trials and was shocked that the evidence Judge Mays allowed the state to present when it was all untrue. I had never seen anything like it with Judge Nance being sat down I believe it’s time for Mays to be next!

Other

Comment #: MD3964
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Maybe you should meet with her mentor also especially if you are a representative of our maryland courts.

Other

Comment #: MD3958
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
She is on probation for her past behavior.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD3957
Rating:9.6

Comments:
I observed this judge conduct three (3) motions hearings including one in which I was involved. She was well prepared for each, rendered a fair decision and was courteous to the attorneys involved.

Other

Comment #: MD3917
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
I witnessed judge steward relentlessly challenge a lawyer who was representing a young lady. It was so embarrassing to hear and see what she was doing was uncalled for.Thankfully another lawyer who was sitting on the side stepped in and spoke up for the lawyer and she quickly backed down.She is horrible!

Other

Comment #: MD3913
Rating:3.0

Comments:
Judge Stewart has not yet returned her decision to a defendant who has been imprisoned over 33 years. in 2013 she told him he had all the information she needed to come to a decision; yet he still awaits her decision. that is very inconsiderate to the inmate and expresses unmanageability in her role as a Judge.

Other

Comment #: MD3912
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This Judge should be removed permanently!!!!! She is extremely predjudice and unfair. My husbands lawyer and myself sat in her courtroom on 4 different occasions and watched her racism at work. A woman with a violent background and numerous failures to appear at probation gets to walk because her teen DAUGHTER needed her at home. But my husband with no violent past failed to abide a traffic law gets slammed!!! We were in danger of losing everything,he had never missed a probation appointment,had a job and was being productive....he got 7 years 25 days!!!! Its all about race.

Other

Comment #: MD3524
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Well it's about time someone with the courage and legal know how reported her before she destroys her reputation as a judge! Hopefully her monitoring period and meetings with a mentor will help her!hopefully this will alert some other judges to be more respectful honest and fair.

Other

Comment #: MD3105
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
A Maryland judge who was “disrespectful, dismissive and intemperate” to a attorney in one case and “mocked and ridiculed” a defendant and his fiancee in another has been suspended from the bench for five days by the state’s top court.

Baltimore City Circuit Judge Lynn Stewart Mays, who sits in Baltimore, must also complete a two-year monitoring period and meet with a mentor, the Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday, the Baltimore Sun reports.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD2196
Rating:1.8

Comments:
This judge is clearly angry about something. She has a terrible temperament, and I am just thankful that I don't have to appear in front of her on a regular basis. I'm not really sure how she ever made it through the Trial Court's Nominating Commission, given her demeanor. It is very obvious that wearing a black robe is extremely important to her. It's a shame, because if she wasn't so impressed with herself being a judge, she would probably be OK.

Prosecutor

Comment #: MD2188
Rating:4.8

Comments:
Welcome to Bodymore Murderland...

Other

Comment #: MD1823
Rating:1.0

Comments:
The "Honorable" judge came off quite obviously as impatient, insensitive, and a poor excuse for BEing human. Seems to be becoming more the rule rather than the exception. Sad.

Litigant

Comment #: MD1717
Rating:3.0

Comments:
Rude, intolerant, unfair, obnoxious, unfair

Other

Comment #: MD1656
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Worse judge I've ever encountered ! It's a sad sight to see and hear this "JUDGE" speak! She blurts out ignorant comments like she's standing out in the street. Full of unnecessary drama.She acts like a bully too!Did Gov. O'Mally appoint her to the bench?When will her term be up? I hope soon!

Other

Comment #: MD1654
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
"Judge Stewart doesn't like postponements."

As a victim of a theft in Baltimore City, I don't like
1.) Having my property stolen.
2.) Having the police arrest that person leaving my home with that property in their possession.
3.) Having a judge refuse to grant a postponement because the arresting officer was scheduled to be out of the country on the date the court picked to grant the defendant his trial.
4.) Granting the defendant a nolle prosequi and turning him loose back on the community.

Never mind the proceedings were already postponed once due to defendant's failure to appear in district court...3 months later, its all about speedy trial.

As a victim and a citizen, my multiple days lost waiting in court (and not at work) naively believing in the system cost me nearly as much as the original theft. Apparently, as a victim, I took my summons to appear more seriously than the defendant.

I am not frustrated, angry, and disappointed because someone was not punished or that I don't feel I "won."
I would have been fine with a not guilty or guilty or plea.
I feel the way I feel because, thanks to Judge Stewart's "efficiency" and disdain for anyone appearing before her, the defendant never had a day in court to face the evidence the state had prepared against him.

To those that feel Judge Stewart may be efficient, its at the expense to the criminal justice system and public safety.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD691
Rating:9.9

Comments:
I am a pro se litigant who had the pleasure of having Judge Stewart hear my motion. My motion was ultimately denied, but at least she explained the reason to my satisfaction. I have to take exception to those who say she does not read the information put before her. Perhaps she doesn't stop the hearing to read a litany of case law presented at trial, but that is reasonable. How much court time should a judge spend reading something that should have already been in the case file. I would say, that next time, you find the case law and give it to her before trial when it is due. Even though she ruled against me I have to be fair to her. Of several different judges, including those on the higest court in Maryland, she was the only one who read and was intimately familiar with every page of the case file. Given the fact that most comments posted here are bitter snipes from people who have lost, I have to look at them with suspicion. Although I lost myself, I do understand why and she judged it correctly. Based on her explanation of her decision I was able to better understand the court system. I would suggest that these people who comment on this judge look at the judges canon of conduct. Judges are supposed to be blind, but they are not deaf.

Civil Litigation - Govt.

Comment #: MD416
Rating:3.1

Comments:
I have no awareness of Judge Steward's abilities in criminal matters. However, Judge Steward consistently interjects her personal beliefs of fairness into civil matters. She ignores any law, clear or otherwise, and refuses to read opinions that are handed to her during motion hearings for her edification, if the law opposes her view on the outcome of a ruling. I have yet to see her write a memorandum along with her orders, and believe this is because she cannot explain her rulings based on the law.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD413
Rating:1.7

Comments:
I am unfortunately not surprised that Judge Stewart is not competent, at least when it comes to even simple commercial contract matters. What surprised me was her temperment on the bench. She was nasty and overbearing and treated a pro se litigant with obvious disdain. She would not explain her rulings because she could not explain them because they made no sense. Unfortunately, this is too common among the state court judiciary who are appointed for reasons other than their legal acumen. I was appalled at her behavior in court.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: MD328
Rating:2.0

Comments:
Judge Stewart is a terrible commercial law judge. She never reads the motions before a scheduled hearing, is completely unprepared in front of counsel, and then she proceeds to deliver a monologue on a point of law that she knows nothing about. She even uses big words incorrectly as if she was on a Saturday Night Live skit. Overall, I would rate Judge Stewart as the worst judge sitting on the Baltimore City Circuit Court.

I understand that she comes from a criminal law background and is stronger in the criminal matters that come up before her.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: MD135
Rating:9.8

Comments:
Judge Stewart is probably one of the most efficient judges in the state of Maryland. She's very knowledgeable when dealing with the law, especially with Fourth Amendment issues. It's a pleasure to appear before her.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD99
Rating:2.6

Comments:
Judge Stewart is an exceptionally lazy and stupid judge. She does not read motions and legal memos in support of motions before oral argument. She does not understand the difference between issues of fact and issues of law. Complex legal issues are way beyond her intellectual ability. It is very dangerous having her as your judge for anything other than a simple tort case that could be understood by the average person off the street. The only nice thing I can say about her is that she is not biased, pro-defendant or pro-plaintiff. She is just incompetent - and both sides share equally in the risk that she will make a wrong decision.