"The Robing Room: CA State Judges

Hon. Thomas J Griego	See Rating Details
Judge Superior Court
Los Angeles County	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 1.3 - 7 rating(s) Non-Attorney Average Rating: 1.0 - 17 rating(s)	Please send me alerts on this judge E-mail Address:

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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. Thomas J Griego

Comments

Litigant

Comment #: CA54493
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Completely incompetent. An insult to judges and lawyers everywhere. A continued abuse heaped on the public of Los Angelos . Ignore his ignorance of the law, his abusing attacks on black and LGBT people. This man never had any business on the bench. He is an immoral lazy bigot.

Other

Comment #: CA54277
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge thinks he can do whatever he wants, not follow the consitution and wants to put a first amendment auditor in jail for Exercising her rights!!!! GET THIS FOOL OFF THE BENCH

Litigant

Comment #: CA54187
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Judge Thomas Griego was disciplined by CJP in 2017 and publicly admonished on 07/11/2024:

https://cjp.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/07/Griego_Pub_Adm_07-11-2024.pdf

I have sat in on many cases and never experienced something as bizarre as this. During my trial day, he was disrespectful to almost every litigant by making rude and biased remarks on different cases. He insults everyone and decides cases on a whim based on his mood rather than law.

He will ignore evidence as he does not have the patience and needs to be explained things like a child. How he passed law school is beyond me.

His intellect does not reflect that of a competent judge.

He considers himself above the law.

No wonder he was deemed not qualified by the press and organizations when he was up for election, but given both choices for re-election were poor back then, we got stuck with him.

If you have experienced horrible treatment from him, go ahead and file a complaint with the Commission on Judicial Performance:

https://cjp.ca.gov/file_a_complaint/

I also suggest making your vote count to get him off the bench during next election.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA53693
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Abhorrent judge. Lacks both intellect and compassion. Demeans and is condescending to unrepresented parties, and is threatened by attorneys of superior intelligence (of which there are many) who appear before him. Unfit for the bench.

Litigant

Comment #: CA53313
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Judge mocked other litigants & victims, seemed not to comprehend what was going on at times, in a case he literally ignored the law requiring landlords to return deposits if they don't notify tenants of costs & itemize them in a certain time but judge ignored it without any reason, in one case he spent a long time asking a litigant details a/b how an investment works just for his personal reasons and it was insane to see him do it, this judge is a menace and frankly whichever side of a case you're on he probably insulted you & did irrational things to your side no matter the outcome, I bet. He's awful, how has he not been investigated & removed yet, does CA not have oversight?

Litigant

Comment #: CA53312
Rating:1.0

Comments:
A terrible, rude judge who ignores the law and facts. He insults litigants and demands their obsequience. In case before mine, he asked numerous questions to the victim of a scam to try to humiliate her for falling for it. The questions were irrelevant to her case.

He rushes litigants presenting key information to their case, while wasting vast amounts of time with questions to satisfy his own personal curiosity.

In my case, I had won my case on the initial small claims trial and the defendant appealed. I had tons of exhibits and statutes that the defendant had broken. He ignored the law and ruled against me completely. There's no written decision and no need for him to follow the law. No one can review a decision in a small claims appeal. He has total authority and uses it at his whim.

Other

Comment #: CA52334
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
@52327-52328:- "Civil Litigator"- Alzheimer's and Dementia are not even the same. Dementia is syndrome and a general term, for a decline in mental ability; while Alzheimer's Disease, is a specific brain disease, that causes Dementia.
//
"Civil Litigator", needs to learn the facts and also needs to learn how to spell words, properly; and also needs to learn to write, factually and grammatically correct, posts'.
//

"Civil Litigator" and has same MO and style, as LASC family court, nepotism nasty, attorney troll, who pushes down posts, on their judge connection, by writing these same style of posts' (and posting the exact same posts', multiple times)- attempting to deflect, from credible posts, on the attorney troll's judge connection.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA52327
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
This Judge acts as if he has Alzeimer and Dimentia, he doesn't remember what he says from one moment to the next. You could have the law on your side but when you get the minute order, he will rule in favor of the other side. He needs to step down.

Litigant

Comment #: CA52109
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This man is awful. I had to hang up in tears and couldn’t even do my opening statement. He is demeaning cruel irritable misogynist and biased. I didn’t hear one of his questions and he completely humiliated me in front of the defendants and court room. I didn’t get a fair hearing

Litigant

Comment #: CA48860
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Judge Thomas Griego is a very peculiar man, and an embarrassment as a California Superior Court Judge; Although he would probably be a superstar in Mississippi, Alabama, or Tennessee. In addition to not knowing simple code Law as it pertains to small claims court. He is also very intellectually lazy, and lacks critical thinking skills.

He will change his mind at the drop of the hat, and forgets what he has said or ordered from initial Trial DeNovo and subsequent case continuance.

The thought of taxpayers money paying this man's salary makes me physically ill. His sheer ignorance of the law, and strange way in which he carries himself, is hurting people every day. He hurt me by his goddam stupidity, ego, [Redacted by Ed.] .

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA48513
Rating:1.0

Comments:
BIASED. not a fair judge!

Litigant

Comment #: CA48512
Rating:1.0

Comments:
disgusting, incompetent, gender biased, poor excuse for a judge. He is outdated and old. how is this man still a judge. total bias, didn't even look at my evidence.
just filed a complaint.
https://cjp.ca.gov/file_a_complaint/

Court Staff

Comment #: CA46502
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Please take the time to file a complaint against this inept judge https://cjp.ca.gov/file_a_complaint/ . He needs to be removed from the bench. [redacted] He yelled at everyone, attempting to intimidate them... [redacted] .

Litigant

Comment #: CA45318
Rating:1.0

Comments:
A rating of 1 is too generous.

Judge Griego does not have both oars in the water, and his behavior should be an embarrassment to this court and judges everywhere.

My case centered around receiving defective and unusable (but expensive) goods from the defendant. As she responded to my complaint, she mentioned her mother has cancer and started to cry crocodile tears. Griego asked me if I believed the defendant's mother had cancer. I responded "I don't know your honor". He then yelled at me "YOU DON'T BELIEVE HER MOTHER HAS CANCER?? WHO WOULD LIE ABOUT THEIR MOTHER HAVING CANCER??" And then he promptly dismissed the hearing, told us to leave without examining the physical evidence or allowing me to respond to the defendant's accusations.

He said he'd rule in a few days, but he ruled the very next day without reviewing the notebook I prepared in which I submitted additional detailed evidence, e-mails, pictures, out of pocket expenses, etc. that I prepared.

This 10 minute hearing was bizarre, disorienting and frankly, crazy. Talk about miscarriage of justice! His question was ludicrous and irrelevant to my case, and his ruling unfair, unjust and plain stupid.

You can't make this stuff up.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA29162
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Thomas J Griego is a little lethargic and refuses to read reports and evaluate cases based on bias and misjudging people. It is an absolute ignominy to have this man represent the State of California.

Litigant

Comment #: CA27261
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Thanks to this Judge's Ignorance, Negligence and Stupidity, I lost my case! He did not pay attention to all my evidence, did not allow my witness to testify and asked the Defendant questions that had absolutely nothing to do with the case. It seemed that he was also moved by the defendant's financial situation and her sobbing. Her only defense was calling me a liar, she had absolutely no evidence, witnesses or anything to back her up! This was a tremendous loss of time, effort and money. Since I am the Plaintiff, I can not appeal this case but I was advice by the Small Claims Advisor to file an SC-105 in order to try and have this case thrown out and get a new case with a more competent judge. I hope this works and I will also try to file a complaint against this judge.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA26271
Rating:1.0

Comments:
A Feedback of 1.7/10 says it all. . it is an under statement, an insult to everything logical, fair and just to have appointed or voted this man as Judge..

It is an absolute betrayal, a travesty of justice, a mockery of to due process. Justice is rolling in her grave! To call this ill tempered obtuse brute a man of the bench is an understatement.. I have been in front of a many Judges , however I have never been in front a ill tempered , bully- desatrious Judge.
.

It’s an insult to have entrusted this clown of a “judge” as an astute referee he is neither a competent judge nor a referee. To have allowed him to wear a rob; is an absolute betrayal to everything astute in our legal system.

In my opinion “judge Thomas J Griego” is neither an intellectually nor a fair-minded thinker, he should have never been given the privilege to wear the rob. “Thomas J Griego” lacks the intellectual curiosity, the in-depth jurisprudence and fair-mindedness to be judicious. At best “Thomas J Griego” is intellectually lazy, avoids getting into the nitty gritty of a case to render a just, fair and sound decision. A verdict based on the laws, evidence and facts presented.

judge Thomas J Griego interrogation techniques are without doubt perplexing, irrelevant, immaterial and inconsequential. In fact the main reason I am submitting this complaint among others. Most mystifying is his lack of inquiry on the matter, his lackadaisical attitude, ways in which he arbitrarily rendered decision, on various cases that came before him.

Other

Comment #: CA26266
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Terrible, inapt,hot tempered - rude.

Intellectual obtuse - clueless and not alert

NOT FIT to wear a rob. A shame to Bench

Litigant

Comment #: CA26130
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Thomas Griego is as incompetent as he is arrogant, making for a bad combination.

In our case, he did not let us present our case, got stuck on an irrelevant details, let the other side ramble on, then ended it quickly without giving us a chance to respond - probably because he was hungry.

If you are unlucky enough to go before Tom Griego, do not go before him near lunch, when he is hungry and impatient.

Also, present your case as you would to a child - otherwise Judge Tom Griego will not understand it.

Litigant

Comment #: CA25679
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Judge T. Griego dismissed my case without looking at facts. He started up a personal conversation with the defendant and ultimately sited with him. Didn't take the time to go thru any of the documents I provided

Prosecutor

Comment #: CA23488
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Judge Tom Griego should not be a judge in Los Angeles County or anywhere, as his mood is capricious and temperament unstable. He does not seem to be able to grasp the particulars of a case, and seems insecure in his grasp of the law. Avoid this LA Superior Court judge at all costs.

Litigant

Comment #: CA22767
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Judge Thomas Griego is the worst judge in LA small claims court, and that's saying something.

Believe all the judge reviews - Tom Griego seems to barely sustain coherent thoughts, and will get lost if your presentation is above a Kindergarten level.

Judge Griego will flip through exhibits if you have them, but not give them more than a quick glance. You have to tell him - look at that big picture, judge, and open your eyes - or he will not see the evidence that is in his hands.

If you end up in the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles for small claims court, and draw Hon. Thomas J Griego, settle with the mediator, if you know what is good for you.

Litigant

Comment #: CA22295
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Had Tom Griego in small claims court in the Stanley Musk courthouse in downtown Los Angeles.

Judge Griego is old and doesn't think clearly. He gets tired fast. The first few cases of the day he was sprite and having fun, cracking jokes here and there. An hour into the day, he was cutting people off, and ending cases fast.

In our case, he let the defendant rattle on and on, then cut us off when we asked to speak. That doesn't seem fair, but it was our first time, so maybe being extremely biased to old white men (the defendant) is normal?

In the end, though, his questions were irrelevant, and he just didn't seem to care out our case, or anyone else's.
Anyone in the courtroom that day could have been a better judge that day than Hon. Thomas J Griego.

It's not just that Judge Griego is dumb, it's that he has the worst temperament for a judge: moody and impatient. Avoid this judge in the Los Angeles Superior Court at all costs.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA22261
Rating:2.3

Comments:
Judge Thomas (Tom) Griego must be one of the most incompetent judges in Los Angeles Superior Court. Watched him interrupt plaintiffs and defendants in small claims court, and ask questions unrelated to the cases over and over again.

After a few hours, he got more and more impatient. If a fact confused him about the case, he would blame whoever submitted the evidence, and end the case quickly.

Avoid Tom Griego in Los Angeles small claims court at all costs. If he is your judge, for god sakes, settle your case with the mediator. You don't know if Honorable Tom is not going to like the color of your hair or the tone of your voice and rule against you.

The day I was "privileged" to witness the Hon. Thomas J. Griego reside over small claims court her in LA was the day I decided to do anything I can to keep this nincompoop from being reelected. He is the worst.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA22196
Rating:1.8

Comments:
No wonder this judge is in small claims. Only in small claims can you be this stupid. Plaintiff sent an international wire. the bank sent it where they were told to. the judge ruled the Bank had to pay him back even though they sent it where they were told to. the ruling violated the law AND common sense.

Litigant

Comment #: CA22170
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge is impatient and does not have the right temperament to listen to a small claims case.

He was prosecutorial in tone and cut me off during my opening statement after less than 2 minutes. For a small claims plaintiff with no experience of the courtroom setting, this was extremely disheartening after all the preparation I did to put together an organized and coherent presentation.

Instead of allowing me to speak, he became fixated on a few issues and seemed uninterested in learning the whole picture.

Very disappointed for our society to have this judge on the bench in small claims court in Los Angeles, since small claims is the only venue for regular people who cannot afford to hire a lawyer and file a civil case.

Hopefully he will return to his career as a prosecutor and leave the judging to those who care enough to listen to cases and dispense fair and reasoned resolutions.

Other

Comment #: CA19318
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
This judge is poor in my opinion. He seems to blatantly ignore the law. He seems overly concerned with his own self importance and I would describe him as a disgrace. I reported him to the judicial review.

Court Staff

Comment #: CA18701
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Unable to focus on Small Claims cases. He gets lost during the presentation of the cases. He then gets mad because he gets mixed up and blames it on the party. He will not allow you to speak or rebut if he doesn't feel like it. Very unfair.