"The Robing Room: NY State Judges

Hon. Donald Scott Kurtz	See Rating Details
Supreme Court
Kings (Brooklyn) County	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 6.1 - 11 rating(s) Non-Attorney Average Rating: 1.0 - 4 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. Donald Scott Kurtz

Comments

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY12308
Rating:1.0

Comments:
a complete joke. smug, condescending and incredibly sexist. he gets bulled by per diems. and the comment below about him skipping lunch is fake news; that person must be referring to J Sherman (an excellent judge). I once heard J Kurtz say he wanted to do private mediations after retirement. I was dying inside. Try settling a case as a Judge first. Don't quit your day job - you won't make any money in the private sector. you don't have it takes in the real world.

Litigant

Comment #: NY11335
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
On June 17-20, 2019 you had a drunk lawyer appear in front of you. Did you smell him? I did. Wake up and smell whats going on your court room. This same lawyer was threatening clients outside your court room. Wake up and protect the people of New York from this horrible behavior. I was not the only person who smelled the Liquor. What kind of Kangaroo court is this? You allowed a lawyer to appear in front of you smelling of alcohol. I am embarrassed by our justice system.

Litigant

Comment #: NY11289
Rating:2.0

Comments:
You legally hurt plaintiffs rights by transferring those cases to 325D. You personally hurt the public not pushing the cases to trial as soon as possible. Your letting the insurance companies not pay the proper award pushing the cases to 325D. In 325d its adjournment after adjournment and low offers. I advise all plaintiffs attorneys don't go to 325D part in Supreme court. Its designed to wear out a plaintiff and counsel for plaintiff. Nothing goes faster there. Its not true that its a good part. I got no attention at all from that part. I am very upset my case was put into 325D. I got screwed on my case. Stop sending cases to 325D.

Litigant

Comment #: NY11166
Rating:3.0

Comments:
Judge Kurtz and his staff don't understand the internet is more powerful then the newspapers. It keeps the information real. I am watching the 325D and Supreme Courts cases every day on the computer. Plus, in person. The court rooms start late and are so over crowded. Why? Because you start late and because you don't control the insurance companies who don't want to pay innocent victims. Then there are holidays and quasi holidays. It seems like no one works for the people of New York who need services from our Judges we depend on. New Yorkers don't get days off from work. So they need help from their courts. Stop delaying the cases. Stop postponements after postponements. It should not take 3 to 10 years for cases. This is outrageous. Where is the court intervention us New Yorkers so desperately need?

Litigant

Comment #: NY8286
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Ignores your argument and legal work while denying you access to court reporter and ends up using the same legal work for the opposite propsition later in a another case. Shame on him!

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY7600
Rating:10.0

Comments:
This is a VERY, VERY industrious judge. He skips lunch to get cases settled. I have appeared before him many times, and each time he was even handed and respectful to everyone. He is extremely effective as a settlement judge. He is truly a credit to the Bar and a great public servant to the Brooklyn community.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY5782
Rating:8.8

Comments:
I've grown to really appreciate Judge Kurtz as being one of the best judges at settling cases there is. He understands the strengths and weaknesses of each side and utilizes them effectively to get attorneys to settle. He is also probably the most civil and respectful judge in a trial assignment part in the city.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY5781
Rating:8.8

Litigant

Comment #: NY4915
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I was falsely accused of vandalism. There were no eyewitnesses, or video either. A previous judge wouldn't even hear the case, and threw it out. My accuser tried again and got Judge Kurtz. Who ever hears of a vandalism case where the judge announces at the start of the trial: "We're not going into motive." Can you say "done deal?"

Civil Litigation - Govt.

Comment #: NY4912
Rating:1.4

Comments:
He is extremely biased in favor of the plaintiff bar. He is also condescending to, and dismissive of, female attorneys who appear before him.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY3455
Rating:1.2

Comments:
He is extremely prejudiced toward the prosecution and does everything imaginable to find in their favor. Asking certain questions, not asking others, Makes no effort to get to the facts, and ignores evidence not supporting his pre-determined verdict.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY1679
Rating:9.1

Comments:
I echo the below comments:

Comment #: NY1459
Rating:9.0
Comments:
He is a nice guy, even handed, great temperament. Puts fair and full value on cases. He is great at JCP.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY1459
Rating:9.0

Comments:
He is a nice guy, even handed, great temperament. Puts fair and full value on cases. He is great at JCP.

Civil Litigation - Govt.

Comment #: NY1377
Rating:7.9

Comments:
He is ok, I guess.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY1045
Rating:9.1

Comments:
A very fair judge, experienced in the realities of practice in Kings County.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: NY814
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
He is very pleasant and respectful to lawyers and goes out of his way not to hurt anyone. I've settled many cases with him, but I've also done some footwork by pre-negotiating with adversaries. A far cry from the worst TAP judge ever.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY681
Rating:1.3

Comments:
Worst TAP judge ever. He does not seem to understand that his job is to settle cases.