"The Robing Room: CA State Judges

Hon. Mark A. Borenstein	See Rating Details
Judge Superior Court
Los Angeles County	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 7.2 - 15 rating(s) Non-Attorney Average Rating: 5.0 - 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. Mark A. Borenstein

Comments

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA38164
Rating:9.6

Comments:
Plaintiff's counsel here. I had him for civil trial. Lost the trial but thought he was overall an excellent judge. Loses his patience from time to time but generally has good reason to. I would keep him if assigned to him on the next trial. He cares.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA28868
Rating:9.0

Comments:
I represented a Plaintiff at trial in front of judge Borenstein for a week. He was extremely knowledgeable on the law, listened intently and took copious notes, all of which it appeared he memorized. I did feel he was a little lenient on the defendants post-trial, but nothing to really complain about. I would accept him 10 times out of 10 as a trial judge.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA23664
Rating:9.0

Comments:
I should have rated this judge 2 years ago, but have only recently begun using the site. Judge Borenstein is simply a judge who comes to work, does his job and does it very well. It is all too easy for practitioners to nit-pick judges (and vice versa. Judge Borenstein is what a judge SHOULD be and no more. He is smart, hard working and even-handed. He did not rule my way in some close callls but, in restrospect, he might have been right. Tough calls make good judges. He is a very good juge.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA19911
Rating:9.1

Comments:
He can be a bit intemperate at times but if you have thick skin, he is knowledgeable and hard working. He appreciates cooperation amongst counsel and will let you try your case.

Litigant

Comment #: CA12706
Rating:7.0

Comments:
Judge Borenstein indicated that I should have gone to law school when he said my answer to the plaintiffs complaint didn’t contain valid affirmative defenses. This was a subrogation case with the chief complaint of conversion that borne from a consignment sales relationship. I argued that it wasn’t, but was a credit sales business relationship. There wasn’t a written contract or any corroboration offered by the plaintiff to support conversion other than a police report. My affirmative defenses included statute of limitation and statutes of fraud. The judge opined that they were not on point. I didn’t argue this, yet to prove conversion the plaintiff needed to establish a consignment contract existed.

Interestingly, the judge ruled in my favor and dismissed the case.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA11765
Rating:2.1

Comments:
Anybody saying this is a good Judge is either a friend of his or lying. He's the worst Judge in the courthouse. He doesn't pay attention to detail. He's tempermental depending on his mood. He snaps at both parties before they can finish their sentences. He sets a bad example for civility in the courthouse. Anyone who's been in his courtroom know what I'm talking about. No wonder he was transferred to parking violation appeals and name changes.

Other

Comment #: CA11740
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Love his approaches, courteous and professional. Served as a jury at one trial under his ruling. It was tiring, but can't say better under a different judge.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA11377
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Judge Borenstein is a very technical Judge who is careful and studious. His temperament is superb. He was born to be a Judge.

Civil Litigation - Govt.

Comment #: CA10889
Rating:9.8

Comments:
Excellent judge for the little guy w/ a lot of patience for non-attorneys who may not be accustomed to arguing before a judge. If you're being less than honest, he'll catch you. He's experienced as sussing out lies. You can tell. Bottom line: just don't be rude in his court. Follow the rules of propriety that your mom taught you when you were a preschooler. It's that simple. Don't be disruptive. Don't speak over anybody else who is speaking. Don't bust in during another person's hearing and expect to speak to a clerk. Don't bang the courtroom doors while court is in session.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA9785
Rating:4.4

Comments:
Judge Bronstein is unmoved by evidence and suffers from a hubris impression of himself. Once he makes up his mind..whether it be as a result of a lawyers' factual position or theatrics, he is unmoved by production of evidence that would prove the matter based on merits. Does NOT follow the law. He works off of equity and lacks judicial temperament. He is corporate driven and a pro per litigant does not stand a chance against an attorney in his court. I have won cases before him over a pro per that I should have lost.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA8753
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Judge Borenstein has a high bar for attorney preparation. If you are sloppy and unprepared, then be prepared to be skewered.

He honestly expects you to have researched every code section and read every case and to file the stuff in his department on time. So bring your "A" game to his department.

He is loathe to continue anything, so be prepared to have your case go forward no matter what. I was in surgery, and he issued an arrest warrant (but held) for my client. Really? What a jerk.

He is very formal. Don't interrupt him or counsel. Act 100% professional, standing up when speaking. Speak only when spoken to. He is very controlling in his courtroom.

He is a detail person, and given the Neanderthal type cases he handles (collection and traffic ticket appeals), he loves a good solid piece of litigation he can sink his teeth in. He is good with numbers and actually will read the cases you cite. Make it easy on him and attach stuff you want him to read.

One final note: File your papers in the filing window but drop off courtesy copies to him at the department. Papers are getting constantly lost in Department "44."

Overall? Excellent Judge but be 100% prepared and bring your "A" game.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA8442
Rating:3.0

Comments:
This judge is awful. Get your case to another dept ASAP if this judge (in dept 44) is assigned, unless you want judgment based on his personal opinion instead of law- emotion is far more effective than logic or law here. Borenstein draws illogical conclusions and serves as an alleged judicial officer while also making the case for an absent opposing party. Thats assuming he didn't mix up the files, which he also does. No wonder this dept's case are largely name change petitions. Being a judge isn't a lawyer's mere $180,000/yr retirement job- it's real legal work and should be taken as such. Agreeing or disagreeing with a judge, I've had much better experiences with other judges and commissioners- at least they try to interpret law instead of making it up or assuming it. This judge must go.

Litigant

Comment #: CA8406
Rating:1.0

Comments:
One of the worst judges I've ever seen. Dishonest, ignores the law and facts; will do anything to justify a parking ticket. Beware of this judge!

Litigant

Comment #: CA8266
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
He sees the issues and will ignore what is primary to justify a ruling. This was my experience. Honorable judge? Not to me.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA7411
Rating:8.7

Comments:
One of the better judges in LASC. He is thorough, has a good temperament, takes time to consider both sides, and generally makes well-reasoned decisions.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA6584
Rating:2.0

Comments:
Disqualify this judge if you have a parking appeal. He'll bend over backwards to rule against you, even when you're in the right.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA6454
Rating:10.0

Comments:
I had my first experience with this Judge recently. I sat through about 10 matters before he got to mine so I have a general understanding of his demeanor. Observations:
1. He is very nice, very professional, to in pro per parties. You don't see this much unfortunately.
2. He likes the rules. Read the Rules of Court and Civ. Code before you haul off and file papers.
3. He actually reads the papers you file. But he is also practical. If fairness dictates something should happen, and there was a technical rule violated, he went with fairness.
4. He is polite to counsel. There was an attorney who did not know the facts of his own case, and the Judge was polite, but still managed to devastate the unprepared attorney.

Keeper.

Civil Litigation - Govt.

Comment #: CA6379
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Mr Borenstein is croock .He presided and made fraudulent decision in case that he had ex-law partner in involved.Instead recuse himself from the case due to conflict he made fraudulent decision.He fraudster and he should never be judge.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA5497
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Intelligent. Long antenna for credibility.

Litigant

Comment #: CA4157
Rating:5.0

Comments:
This judge seems like a decent guy, but makes weird rulings. Didn't like the way my attorney questioned my former spouse, so let him off on perjury and obfuscation. Said my attorney seemed intent on shaming him. I don't think he's too thrilled being a family law judge.