"The Robing Room: NY State Judges

Hon. Cynthia Kern	See Rating Details
Supreme Court
New York County	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 4.8 - 8 rating(s) Non-Attorney Average Rating: - 0 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. Cynthia Kern

Comments

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY8264
Rating:2.3

Comments:
Needs to go back to law school

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY8120
Rating:1.6

Comments:
Pro-defendant Judge who cares little for existing law and knows even less. Has a pleasant demeanor but will definitely sink any Plaintiff's case. Be warned.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: NY7781
Rating:8.2

Comments:
I was in front of Judge Kern for post judgment motion practice. At oral argument, she had skimmed the papers and had already made her decision. However, she took the time after argument to fully read the record and write a thorough and thoughtful opinion. She was friendly and respectful of the litigants and allowed us both a opportunity to be heard. When you are in front of her, get your papers in before the return date, stand your ground and make you arguments. You just may change her mind.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY6682
Rating:9.7

Comments:
I had a case before her when she was in Civil Court and again recently in Supreme. I was not at all surprised she was promoted. Justice Kern is highly intelligent, fair, and has an even temperament. I have no doubt the negative reviews here are from attorneys who advanced flawed legal positions and now want sour grapes. Assuming this is her aspiration, I expect to eventually see Justice Kern appointed to the AD1. And it will not be a moment too soon, because this once excellent AD is in a downward spiral. In the past few years my firm alone has had the AD1 reversed twice by the COA. Unfortunately, the COA denied leave to appeal from two other astonishingly bad AD1 decisions. The AT1 is a far better court, especially if you are lucky enough to get the Schulman, Schoenfeld panel.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY5854
Rating:9.0

Comments:
The comments to date are likely disgruntled lawyers who didn't prevail. The fact is that Justice Kern is highly intelligent and at the same time practical. She is very careful in her questioning and expects lawyers to be both candid and knowledgeable. Moreover, she is decisive and that's a critically important trait in this court. So in fact she is entitled to high marks.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY5168
Rating:2.5

Comments:
This judge is not knowledgeable about the law. She does have a nice personality, though. She is pro-defense, and tells you that it's because plaintiffs never appeal her when they lose. She does way too much off the record.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: NY4970
Rating:1.7

Comments:
Judge Kern had absolutely no command of the field of law regarding my case. She ruled contrary to established precedent. She said that I could cite cases if it made me feel better, but that her mind was made up. She decides issues that opposing counsel does not even raise.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY4069
Rating:3.7

Comments:
Complex legal issues seem to befuddle this otherwise pleasant and charming jurist. Not much thought or analysis goes into ant decisions.