"The Robing Room: CA State Judges

Hon. Sunshine S Sykes	See Rating Details
Judge Superior Court
Riverside County	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 2.8 - 20 rating(s) Non-Attorney Average Rating: 1.0 - 5 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. Sunshine S Sykes

Comments

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA53179
Rating:1.0

Comments:
The cornerstone of a democratic framework is the independence and neutrality of its judiciary. SSS has failed miserably when tasked with adjudicating based on the merits of law and evidence, devoid of external pressures or individual prejudices. She does exactly as she is told and the mechanisms through which judges are appointed is based on one thing - Controllability. That is who is now being promoted in our judiciary.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA48122
Rating:1.0

Comments:
unprofessional and lack of judgement
Wish to have a rating below 0
She is definitely not qualify to be Judge.
How could she being promoted to federal bench

Other

Comment #: CA40430
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
With all these reviews, it's amazing that she was just appointed to the federal bench. Amazing that none of the negative comments were heard or addressed. Perhaps she got better over time.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA38956
Rating:6.2

Comments:
170.6 if your case is assigned to her.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA32445
Rating:3.4

Comments:
I do not understand how she has been assigned to complex cases. She does not understand or grasp civil law concepts.

Litigant

Comment #: CA27821
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Sykes harmed me by allowing opposing attorneys Aldridge Pite and Anglin Flewelling et al to let their demurrer slide by when major VOID and criminal documents were filed against my home in Nuevo. The opposing attorney clearly screwed up my not conducting a meet and confer before getting deep into the Demurrer----my attorney abandoned my case and I was threw in- I asked to leave to amend and she chose to help the other attorneys by allowing them to do the meet in confer in the middle of demurrer proceedings THEN she just signed their order DISMISS WITH PREJUDICE----criminal---I do not want to hear how she walked a hundred miles when she was a child. Sykes helped the attorneys steal my home. The appeal was just as bad....the panel protected her record for the love of politics. I am not going to let them steal my home----this has become public.

Other

Comment #: CA17367
Rating:1.0

Comments:
If she is your judge find a way to get another one. She did not give us a fair trial. I do not even think she read our paper work. The HOA attorney and our Lawyers work was not looked at. She stated she could not understand why the case took 4 years. And award funds to the person who would not settle until he had a very high lawyer fee. She did not even read our issues. She is not fit to be a judge and is very unfair. Not sure how she got to be a judge. Seems to be lazy. Totally fails to do the work necessary to educate herself on the case. She refused to study both sides and would not allow her mind to review the truth. We all were extremely disappointed with Judge Sunshine's performance in our case. She displayed no understanding of the what was going on. No regard to the issues with our case and who fault it was for going on four years. She awarded two bottom feeder funds. They both sue folks for a living. It she would have taken time to read the evidence. Our case would have ended differently. She does not belong on the bench. She is very incompetent and ignores the law. Did not follow the cases and fined the wrong person. She does not care are understand or choose to care how serious her incompetence is upon peoples lives. She definitely lacks experince . She should not be a judge.

Litigant

Comment #: CA13673
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I am appalled that at this judge. My case was based on evidence and witnesses- none of which my opponent had. While my opponent was permitted to tell lie after lie without providing any proof, I was not allowed to tell my story as it was ruled as "hearsay". I had 5 witnesses. 3 medical professionals and 2 people that had intimate knowledge of the situation before and after the incident. My witnesses were deemed not credible- even though they had no skin in the game- and were related to one of the Petitioners. It was very difficult for them to testify against her, but they knew they had to tell the truth. In the end, I have lost my and my children's inheritance- simply for doing what I was asked to do. I will also have to take out a second mortgage on my home to pay supposed "damages" and "Lawyers fees". I am still in shock that in this day and age this sort of injustice is happening to good people with no concern or time taken to really understand the issue. I and my family may never recover from this.

Litigant

Comment #: CA12626
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge is terrible! She stared out the window, corrected the incompetent lawyer, and still sided with the people that didn't fix our remodeled bathroom. This judgement on a stall shower may cost us our home! I hope she gets a bad contractor, and loses her home over it!

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA12330
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Just had her reversed in case that court of appeals almost used the words obviously not even close to correct on the legal issue.
Just has not had enough time to learn.
However. She does read everything. Eventually, I believe her scholarship will improve.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA12328
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
She seemed dismissive, yet courteous. She appeared to have a superficial understanding of the issues and law, but I didn't see the depth I was hoping for. Still undecided.

Other

Comment #: CA11675
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Judge Sykes is a very nice person. However, she definitely lacks any knowledge as to criminal matters. Unfortunately, it does not appear she can grasp common sense issues without having to argue with her. Good luck if you end up in her court, I'm not sure she could find her way out of a paper bag without probable cause.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA11492
Rating:1.4

Comments:
A bad one, try to stay away from her. She can not grasp the key issue and be fair for both sides. No professional judgment.
Wonder she got on judge position via politic favor

Civil Litigation - Govt.

Comment #: CA10872
Rating:2.4

Comments:
If the subject matter involves anything that a 6th grader couldn't understand, you need to file a 170.6. That is about the extent of this judge's intellect. Not the sharpest tool in the shed.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA10717
Rating:3.4

Comments:
Definitely Lacks experience. Not even understand basic components of civil litigation procedures and remedies. Fails to do the work necessary to educate herself.

Terrible terrible judge, that does not understand basic concepts and judicial neutrality.

avoid at all costs.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA10539
Rating:7.6

Comments:
While this judge tends to be a little timid at times, particularly when a large firm or government entity is involved, I find her to be be genuinely fair and ethical. She was very conscientious, reading all of the pleadings and really making an effort to learn an area of the law that she clearly was not familiar with, nor comfortable with. I never felt that she was biased at any point in the proceedings. Definitely not "one of the good ole boys", which has been a problem that has plagued the judiciary in my area for some time. With time, she will be an amazing judge. I'll take fair and ethical any day of the week. Experience call be gained, but ethics are instilled in character. A judge who lacks ethics can plague even the best of cases.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA9391
Rating:1.7

Comments:
Find a way not to get this judge. Risk is you will end up with Trask. Scary courthouse and expensive doll house for these to to be playing in.
Sykes has no understanding of basic civil law. Will never admit she is wrong. Appeals mill.
Just inexperienced and incompetent.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA8888
Rating:1.4

Comments:
Worst judge I have ever appeared in front of in the more than 25 years I have been practicing law. What's even more curious is that she invent the evidence which never admitted and denied the hear the fact!is the worst, most unfair and inept judge that I have ever encountered! She has no knowledge of the law. Her summary of my motion showed that she did not read my reply papers. Everything that she stated in her summary was refuted in my reply papers, that she obviously didn't read. As I listened to her read her summary of the opposing counsel's motion I was astounded that she had not read my reply, which had refuted each and every point with evidence, citation to case law and exhibits. This is dishonorable behavior at its worst!Makes rulings with her own explanation away from fact.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA8546
Rating:1.1

Comments:
Could not agree more with last comments.
I have recently see her do something that I have not seen in over 30 years of practice that leaves me completely shocked.
I asked my 16 year old clerk what was meant by a certain concept. She explained it immediately. This judge got it wrong even after extensive briefs on the subject.
Then, when she is obviously wrong she tried to cover herself and made things even worse.
The court of appeals must be getting lots of laughs out of this one. Jerry Brown, what were you thinking? Zero experience in any kind of Civil Law before being appointed. Does to get it. Wastes everyones time and client's money.
Ding her every time you see her name on an initial pleading. No other judge could be worse.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA8504
Rating:1.5

Comments:
Shockingly inept.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA8499
Rating:7.9

Comments:
OK, was assigned Sykes when she was first appointed to the bench, thought FOR SURE she was appointed based on gender or ethnicity. I was extremely worried about her intellect and abilities as there was some question as to her having the required 10 years of full time legal experience before being appointed to her judgeship. I can now say without hesitation she is my absolute favorite judge in State court (and I HATE state court). She reads the papers (many state judges only give papers a cursory look/glance), knows the issues, always both sides time to get their issues argued and then calls it like she sees it. Her demeanor is extremely cordial, she is learned, conscientious, VERY well-prepared, even-tempered and unbiased, thoroughly researches the issues and is just all around a fantastic judge who treats people with unfailing courtesy. I cannot believe how far off I was about her based on my preconceived value judgment I made in the beginning when she was first appointed. Shame on me.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA8487
Rating:1.5

Comments:
Definitely Lacks experience. Not even understand basic components of civil litigation procedures and remedies. Fails to do the work necessary to educate herself. Obvious she refused to put her mind into cases or complete briefs.
Extremely disappointed in Judge Sunshine' performance. She displayed minimal understanding of the business need, which is not surprised considering her newness to this court. However, she had complete disregard for the rules of evidence, refused to crucial evidence to make her judgment. The worse part is she is biased, provided, and invented evidence to one side to support her biased. Try to avoid her at all cause. She should not belong to the bench.
She blatantly chooses to ignore the law. She makes up her mind at the beginning of the trial and then twists the facts and the law to match her decision.
She simply is incompetent, unlike, ignores the law, cannot follow the cases, changes her mind constantly, cannot understand basic accounting and predetermines her opinion before the trial even begins. She does not understand or choose to care how serious her incompetence is, in its impact upon peoples' lives! She made an incomprehensible decision despite overwhelming evidence pointing the other way....
It is well observed that judge to be "decision driven" before she hears the case! It could not be any reason why she even holds the hearing in the first place? Her decision is NOT based upon the law or judicial ethics, but is based upon her personal "Likes."

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA8381
Rating:1.3

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA8295
Rating:1.6

Comments:
Extraordinarily unfair and biased.
No knowledge and capability as Judge.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA8244
Rating:2.2

Comments:
Lacks experience. Does not understand basic components of civil litigation procedures and remedies. Fails to do the work necessary to educate herself. Obvious she does not read cases or complete briefs.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA8157
Rating:7.9

Comments:
I tried a complex 4 week bench trial involving complicated real estate transactions, deed restrictions and breach of covenants issues before Judge Sykes. I found her to be well prepared and thoughtful on her rulings. She spent time explaining most of her difficult rulings on the record. Her evidentiary rulings were mostly correct, especially those involving expert testimony and evidence. I found her to be very even handed and was not afraid to change her tentative ruling when she fully understood the law and/or facts. She will give you a fair trial