"The Robing Room: CA State Judges

Hon. David J Cowan	See Rating Details
Judge Superior Court
Los Angeles County	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 3.4 - 17 rating(s) Non-Attorney Average Rating: 4.0 - 17 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. David J Cowan

Comments

Litigant

Comment #: CA53364
Rating:1.0

Comments:
If your case assigned to this judge in the Beverly Hills court, please RUN!!! And try your best to change to another judge or choose diffrent court house. This judge doesn't even look at the evidence, and he listened and believed the perpetrator who scammed me and caused huge financial damage. The most important thing is I was not the only one who scammed by this perpetrator, and the other victim was with me that day, even though he knew that he listened the perpetrator side story. This judge was just very annoyed with my case. If he hates it so much just quit the job!!!! There are so many more good judges than this cranky man. Because of the perpetrator, I am living with huge credit card debt and I live with EBT card. And this judge ordered to the perpetrator pay me little over 14% of the amount of damage. Is this justice??
the court and judge exist for save victims, isn't it??
He ran for Presiding judge of the L.A. Superior Court??? OMG I'm glad he lost!!! It would be a disaster if this judge became Presiding judge of the L.A. Superior Court. I hope that judge quits his job at the court soon!!!

To Cowan,
If you don't want to see the victim's evidence then please don't ask me to send it to court!!
If you don't want to listen to the victim story then just quit your job. There are many more capable and younger judges than you. Your wrong judgment will make the victim's life more difficult and the perpetrator is still scammed other people!! I hope and pray every day that no other victims ever meet you as a judge.

Litigant

Comment #: CA53311
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
He is currently in small claims at Beverly Hills courthouse, he refuses to read documents submitted ahead of time. Makes rulings without a full review of all exhibits. Will claim he will take a case under submission only to rule an hour later - how much time could you have spent examining all the exhibits? He has a thing against ESL litigants or those who use an interpreter. Normally, cases in Beverly Hills go to Pamela David who is such a better judge who really gives everyone equal time and reviews materials ahead of time and afterwards. However, do to overflow of cases or if someone 170.6 Davis, you may end up with Cowan if that happens, file a 170.6 it’s the form to get rid of a judge ahead of time before he hears the case. You don’t even really need a reason. It will get sent to a different judge in the courthouse. I’d advise that over Cowan.

To Cowan, you are a horrible excuse of a judge and to see how you treated those who are English as second language. You talk too fast and jump around in the case making it even more confusing for non native speakers to keep up.

Other

Comment #: CA38884
Rating:1.0

Comments:
He is running for Presiding judge of the L.A. Superior Court. He is incompetent to even be in the court building much less a judge who abuses his power and ruins peoples live, robes their estates and lies in his orders. He is a gun for hire by the big law firms and enjoys being abusive. He is a sick man.

Other

Comment #: CA38600
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I hear that Cowan is going to run for Presiding Judge of the Superior Court. He needs to be in prison for the crimes he has committed against families and their loved ones. He has NO heart or conscience and doesn't know or follow the laws or protect the rights of those before him. He plays GOD and should be thrown off the bench and out of the court building. Crooks protect each other and the appeals court condones their crimes. It's time for accountability and exposure of their crimes. Cowan is one sick man.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA36568
Rating:8.3

Comments:
Very fair judge who considers the facts, sees through deceptive tactics and usually issues the right ruling.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA33813
Rating:1.5

Comments:
Highly incompetent in regards to his civil rulings. Made blatantly incorrect rulings where the law was clear. Failed to research any legal issues and made ruling off the cuff.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA32816
Rating:9.9

Comments:
A treasure to the legal community.

Litigant

Comment #: CA32810
Rating:8.0

Comments:
I was self represented and thought I was given fair opportunity. I didn’t follow through as I should so the outcome was on me. I granted ample time COVID19 appeared at the wrong time.

Litigant

Comment #: CA31442
Rating:1.0

Comments:
He is extremely unprofessional, blatantly abuses the laws and the rights of people who think that justice exists in the court. He is very politically connected to the big law firms and appoints them as fiduciaries over people who are competent in order to loot their estates under the guise of "protection." Families are being destroyed and estates are being stolen by the buddies of Cowan. He is not the only judge who is a traitor to his Oath of Office. They need to be prosecuted and punished to the fullest extent of the law. Cowan should be taken off the bench to prevent damage to other people.

Litigant

Comment #: CA31167
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
He is HORRIBLE this judge allowed my nephew's estate to be robbed blind by a crooked fiduciary [Redacted by Ed.]. He allowed my nephew to be deprived of his inheritance by [redacted]a crooked fiduciary. mistreats children, opposes their agendas, and he deny's them of the right to their inheritance. He is deceptive and cunning. He deceives his clients and steals all of their assets. Run from [redacted] if he approaches you begging you to turn over your estate to him - like he did us. He will leave your child , son, daughter, or mother/father with nothing.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA30935
Rating:1.7

Comments:
Run, do not walk, if you are a trustee, not part of his favorites club, don't suck up to his ego, dont bow to his superiority complex, or if you are a woman. Better yet, dont take any chances. Challenge him and get the hell out of Dodge before this abusive dick ruins your life. There is no law in his courtroom, only the law he makes up. Don't like it? He will punish you some more. Challenge him? File an appeal? Even the appellate court doesn't tell him what to do. Sending him to civil wasn't what was needed. He already did his damage in probate. Remove this guy from the courtroom before he destroys more lives and continues to play God without any oversight.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA30604
Rating:1.5

Comments:
Completely fails to follow the law to accomplish the result he wants. He has terrible judicial temperament and is a bully. He wears the robe heavy.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA29870
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Anyone who has the unfortunate luck of being an attorney for a litigant appearing before Judge Cowan should immediately recognize two things: 1) the facts, filings, and papers submitted by a party he deems to be a less favorable party to his sensibilities will be entirely disregarded; and, 2) he will disregard legal limitations on his power in order to accomplish whatever end he deems needs to be accomplished in a given case based on his idiosyncratic perceptions that are not rooted in any legal authority. Statutorily prevented from doing some kind of judicial act? Not a problem, he will do whatever he wants against any party who disagrees with him, even if doing so under the circumstances would violate a statute (or constitutional protections of due process). You say you have prior rulings from other courts directly disagreeing with him and essentially precluding him under the doctrine of collateral estoppel from ruling in the way he did? Well, just look at what is going on with the Bradford Lund case.

An investigation by the JCP needs to be opened regarding David Cowan. I don't know that there is any pecuniary corruption underlying David Cowan's "unique" form of jurisprudence, but he most certainly refuses to recognize the facts and the law in a case if those facts and law would prevent him from inflicting the biased and prejudiced outcome he desires on a particular litigant. Don't just 170.6 this judge, if you're stuck with him and something untoward happens in your case because of this judge, which is likely going to be the case, please take the time to report it to the JCP, even if the untoward result is favorable to you/your case. Please feel free to contact me by email if you are prosecuting a case against this judge as I have a record of him making up "facts" to support a ruling that violated the judicial canons, as well as a hearing transcript wherein he engaged in dismissive and disrespectful conduct towards a litigant he personally didn't like in open court.

Litigant

Comment #: CA29843
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Seeking a CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT against DAVID J. COWAN this judge is a disgrace to the BENCH that he sits on. RESEARCH has it that DAVID J. COWAN is being sued by more than on VICTIM that he has CRUCIFIED using DEPRIVATION OF RIGHTS UNDER COLOR OF LAW VIOLATION SECTION 242. I have cases that go back to 2009 when DAVID J. COWAN crucified an ELDERLY WOMAN for 2M and he named her a VEXATIOUS LITIGANT after she appealed. WWW.PROBONOLEGAL.NET. 7143818138. There are several other cases in the works EXTRINSIC FRAUD AND FRAUD UPON THE COURT

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA29842
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Engages in the ABUSE OF PROCESS AND DEPRIVATION OF RIGHTS UNDER THE COLOR OF LAW VIOLATION SECTION 242 AND CONSPIRACY SECTION 241 and WILLFUL SUPPRESSION of CRIMINAL EXCULPATORY EVIDENCE that results in a CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATION ... his FRAUD UPON THE COURT and EXTRINSIC FRAUD and PARALLEL CONSTRUCTION and a BRADY DISCLOSURE VIOLATION and COLLUSION AND COERSION. we have found several other cases from 2009 and he has a history of WILLFUL SUPPRESSION. WWW.PROBONOLEGAL.NET. 7143818138. we are seeking a CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. ALL ARE WELCOME to join in.

Litigant

Comment #: CA29818
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Google this judges name he's a monster and fraud, has no business on the bench. It's two faced DIS Honorable clowns who destroy the concept of justice and a fair hearing in court.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA29584
Rating:9.9

Comments:
Very knowledgeable, but also very thoughtful Judge.

Litigant

Comment #: CA29583
Rating:10.0

Comments:
A very thoughtful judge, who took the time to view the entire case, and applied law to achieve justice. I don't know what the sour grapes are here in other posts, but I spent a lot of time in that courtroom and watched his approach on various cases.

Other

Comment #: CA26283
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I heard that Cowan was demoted to the civil court. He should be taken out of the court building all together. He is a disgrace to the profession. He enjoys harming people he doesn't like or that his friend attorneys don't like. He is unethical, biased and will not follow the rules of court or the law. He abuses due process rights, rights to property and has no regard for the Oath of Office he took when he was appointed by Gov Brown. I think the Gov would be horrified if he knew what this judge has done to people who have come to the court for protection and justice. There is no justice in Cowan's court. Everyone knows he is no good but they also cover his crimes by keeping him on the bench and allowing him to harm other people. There is going to be a time when he goes to far and the court can't protect him. He is pure evil. He loves abusing women and the rights of others. That is sick!

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA25974
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Cowan appears to have seen better days. Doesn’t follow the law the way it is written. Easy buy out for someone waving money over his head. I thought the man was asleep during half of the case as he seemed hard to see what was happening in the courtroom and didn’t take proper corrections. Here there was a witness sitting in on the entire case and then he absolutely had it erased from the transcript. That does border a bit on the unethical side. Sadly the man appeared clueless about the laws and “did his own thing”. I hope he is removed from the bench within the near future.

Probation or Pretrial Officer

Comment #: CA25606
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Guess this judge snoozed with the attorney population too long. When there is crime in a civil case it points to a judge being biased and not respecting the law.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA22451
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Thanks for looking at the dead cat on the table so I could gain more money to hide in my real estate company and never get sued. By bullying my godchild, lying to my brother, and taking advantage of the situation, I am a wealthy man. I have no feelings for anyone I hurt. I am a narcissist. And as an attorney I won the prize in lying.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA21598
Rating:1.0

Comments:
There is a place waiting for bought off judges called Hell and Damnation. May your death be unfelt by others, your soul list for eternity, and may one of your attorney buddies steal everything you have ever owned. For you are not a good judge, you are sold out to an evil force

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA20097
Rating:1.4

Comments:
Doesn't read the documents and appears to be bought off. Can not concern truth from manipulative BS.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA18834
Rating:3.0

Comments:
He picks sides based on appearance and not based on evidence. Check out his Facebook page and I HATE his british accent.

Litigant

Comment #: CA17517
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Engaged in Willful Suppression.

Litigant

Comment #: CA17026
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Cowan does not read my filings but reads the defendants filings and believes their lies. He admitted that he has not read any of my filings or the previous orders by the court or the court in Arizona. This is very damaging to me. He has denied me due process to discovery on my case against my trustees who are wasting my estate assets.I have been denied discovery by this court for over 4 1/2 years. Now Cowan is trying to protect his buddies by threatening to appoint a GAL over me, a very competent and capable 48 year old man. I have been found time and time again to be competent and able to handle my own affairs both financial and personal. My trustees are getting by with crimes against me because Cowan is friends with their attorneys. He is violating the laws, has no regard for the laws and is making his own laws up from the bench. This probate court is a disaster and needs to be investigated by the Feds or someone who gives a care about justice.

Other

Comment #: CA14237
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Hope some unethical attorney lies under oath and uses his money to steal his inheritance. Justice is bullshit. My father died, and my uncle, a criminal attorney lied under oath stealing an inheritance he was never mentioned in. But like OJ, he got 5 attorneys to hide the truth. And he didn’t spend a dime. My brother with schizophrenia made him a deal. Never even stepped foot into my fathers home or even knew what type of dog he owned.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA13449
Rating:2.3

Comments:
Since Judge Cowan doesn't follow the law, I am the private detective proving perjury and a total of 4 unethical attorneys. The sheriff will be told of these four men stealing millions of dollars in a scheme that was originally civil. Cowan is either a "bought off judge" as he does not read a TRUE LIER in court. He has no common sense or logic in looking at the consequences of his rulings. So now there are groups of attorneys being criminals themselves assaulting, using extortion, fraud, and perjury and committing grand larceny. And the public suffers INJUSTICE.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA13002
Rating:3.8

Comments:
While a congenial personality in the courtroom, he either doesn't know basic law or chooses not to follow it. He rarely misses an opportunity to make the wrong decision, no matter how hard he tries. For easy matters, he is okay...for anything complex, stay away. His lack of legal scholarship will depress you.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA12392
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge should have retired many years ago. My uncle attorney lied on the stand stealing a 5 million dollar inheritance by bullying the deceased daughter a registered nurse in the state of California. Imagine the after effects of a family being robbed and a judge so damn lazy that the documents meant nothing. For this Christmas, wishing the dear judge have a criminal attorney care for him rather than a responsible registered nurse with integrity. This judge has lost discernment and now we have to go outside the civil court to the district attorney for criminal charges. Just saying that attorneys have no code of ethics like board certified angels.

Other

Comment #: CA11681
Rating:10.0

Comments:
There was nothing special about my case - sole heir, no problems. I made sure I did absolutely everything perfectly to avoid the same. Both of my hearings were about 15 seconds and none of my paperwork was ever rejected or anything.

Different judge ended up signing my order for final distribution.

Watching him handle other cases, he was very agreeable with a calm demeanor that was infectious. It was mostly continuances though, nothing exciting.

He doesn't appear to like CourtCall, but I imagine few judges would.

Litigant

Comment #: CA11085
Rating:10.0

Comments:
So far so good! I agree with positive comments mentioned above! Honorable David Cowan seems thorough! I thank God for fair Judges! This Judge is currently Hearing the case that I am a party to. I have been tricked out of my inheritance by siblings! What is this world coming to? God help us all! Thank you for this JUDGE!!!

Other

Comment #: CA10229
Rating:10.0

Comments:
This a judge who is thorough, intelligent, fair and cares about what he does. I feel he is not part of the Good Ole Boy system and is an honest judge with integrity.

Litigant

Comment #: CA10221
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Incredible. I have hope in the legal system again. After 6 years, we finally have a judge, who has read ALL the briefs, asked relevant questions, and reviewed all documents from a 6 year legal battle. Thank you, thank you. An intelligent, caring, and seemingly very fair judge, who actually cares about the litigant. Rulings can change the fate of an entire family, for generations. Judge Cowan seems to know that and care about justice being served. Amen.