"The Robing Room: CA State Judges

Hon. Sean Dabel	See Rating Details
Judge Superior Court
San Mateo County	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 3.4 - 13 rating(s) Non-Attorney Average Rating: 4.0 - 10 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. Sean Dabel

Comments

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA42803
Rating:1.3

Comments:
DEFENSE BAR: AVOID AT ALL COSTS
Dabel, unlike most former DAs who become judges, leans heavily in favor of the prosecution, as others have noted. He ignores the DA’s mistakes, instinctively rules in the their favor regardless of the facts or law, and generally shows a condescending attitude toward the defense. He is a manchild on a power trip, who no one taught to mind his manners. In terms of judicial temperament, I have never seen someone so unfit in any jurisdiction.

Litigant

Comment #: CA39759
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I also agree with all the people here who gave him Rating: 1.0

I have the same point of views about him.
It's been very painful experiences to deal with him at Court. Judge Dabel is very biased in my case. He never prepared well before any of my hearings. He abused his discretion on many occasions. He had made so many mistakes and refused to admit them or correct them. He allowed the false testimonies, bad faith without any sanctions.

Judge Dabel should learn more CCP, CRC in order to rule correctly.

Litigant

Comment #: CA39676
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Judge Dabel is an amazing, unbiased judge that can see through shit and not playing around wasting time, he is smart, fast and knows what’s going on with fast effective decisions! He is one of the best judge I’ve seen in many family courts, sadly he is no longer in family court…
Wish he’s back to family court and all the family judges are like him!

Litigant

Comment #: CA39674
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Judge Dabel is an amazing, unbiased judge that can see through shit and not playing around wasting time, he is smart, fast and knows what’s going on with fast effective decisions! He is one of the best judge I’ve seen in many family courts, sadly he is no longer in family court…
Wish he’s back to family court and all the family judges are like him!

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA38756
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I previously posted on 4/8/20, 6/20/20 and 12/23/21.

This post is in response to Criminal Defense Lawyer's post of 1/23/22.

Because Judge Dabel came from the District Attorney's Office, he MIGHT be able to function legally and ethically in Criminal Law Matters; however, he is incapable or unwilling to do so in Family Law Matters, which enjoy none of the constitutional protections of Criminal Law.

I have a dear attorney friend who represents criminal defendants, including double homicides. He said to me that he will never step foot in the absurdity and illegality that is Family Law Court, with its reliance on quadruple hearsay and complete lack of Constitutional Protections and Rules of Evidence. He said that at least his criminally charged clients have rights. Women and children who find themselves in Family Law Court have none.

To be at the mercy of a Judge's biases and bigotries in Family Law Court is completely unacceptable and disgraceful. And your lack of understanding that Criminal Law and Family Law are two completely different "animals" can only stem from lack of information or lack of concern. Neither is acceptable.

Yes, new Judges start in Family Law Court, because women and children do not matter in our society (and I have the "hearing" transcripts to prove it). And for the new Judges to prove themselves as part of the Patriarchy (and yes, even if they are female), they are sent to Family Law Court to put women and children in their place.

This is my opinion, based on decades of evidence, both as an attorney and as a party in Family Law Court.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA38752
Rating:9.9

Comments:
A recent addition to San Mateo County. Young and conscientious. I understand San Mateo sends new judges to start in Family Court. Judge Dabel made every effort to understand the matter and make an equitable ruling. We need fair UNBIASED judges in the Bay Area. This judge is one of them. I'm encouraged because It looks like San Mateo County added one or two more who aren't afraid of Herr Wagstaffe and will simply treat attorneys and clients with respect and will call balls and strikes.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA38482
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I previously posted on 4/8/20 and 6/20/20. Given recent postings, I am providing the public with detailed information regarding the consequences of Judge Dabel's Ex Parte Ruling forcing my minor daughter returned to Spring Ridge Academy in Mayer, Arizona. (Judge Dabel had no prior experience with our case, as our entire divorce was handled by a private Judge employed by JAMS.)

The misuse of Ex Parte Motions in Family Law Court is well known and epidemic, daily exploited by Family Law Attorneys. Ex Parte Motions should be used solely for actual emergencies to prevent imminent and irreparable damage. Instead, it's used to cause the exact type of damage it was designed to prevent. Rather than respect the Rules of Evidence designed to insure honesty, Ex Parte Motions dangerously rely on unproven hearsay. Frankly, it's a lazy shortcut used by the Family Law Industry. Justice and Equity require rigor.

Below is a link to my Complaint in Arizona Federal Court against Spring Ridge Academy in Mayer, Arizona. This lawsuit (and all described occurrences after February 3, 2020) would never have occurred if Judge Dabel had simply followed all applicable laws, existing orders and court-ordered recommendations.

Our Judges should be called to serve, not seek to rule.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dBzld_SDI5tcD1ndr2pccEbL1cpP7MLy/view

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA38349
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Judge Dabel is an excellent jurist and takes his job very seriously. He reads everything and doesn't take sides.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA38342
Rating:2.7

Comments:
Judge Dabel was fair and reputable once but over the last 2.5 years he has been gradually corrupted by the system and some dishonest and manipulative attorneys. He rescheduled a status conference 5 times and rubber stamped a court order prepared by an attorney who lied. It is very disappointing to say the least to see a judge lacking discernment of character and personalities of attorneys, siding with the dishonest and sacrificing justice, even if he needs to have a good working relationship with such attorneys. It is now clear why victory, not justice, belongs to those who have $ and are willing to pay attorneys to lie and kiss up to the judge for them.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA36428
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I agree with all the people here who gave him Rating: 1.0

I have the same point of views about him.
It's been very painful experiences to deal with him at Court.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA33548
Rating:10.0

Comments:
We recently had a very stressful separation, long story short my spouse was not as forthcoming as she could be with "the truth". Judge Dabel was compassionate and incredibly fair, and was even kind to our young daughter, wishing her a happy birthday. As a bonus, we were able to do most everything via Zoom which was a blessing. Overall, a painless and FAIR process and outcome. Not as stressful or time-consuming as I feared it would be. Thank you Judge and the court system.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA31602
Rating:1.0

Comments:
My first review of Judge Dabel disappeared from this site, apparently because it was too negative (lol). I am leaving another review because in the last year since I left the prior review, Judge Dabel has continued to demonstrate incompetence, prejudice, and simply an uncaring and grossly indifferent attitude. I have been filing peremptory challenges under 170.6 in all new cases assigned to Judge Dabel, as are a number of other local attorneys, and now I only have one case with him. As just one example, the proposed judgment following a court trial in May 2019 was submitted to Judge Dabel in December 2019. It's now August 2020 and he has given no indication of when/whether he will sign or reject the proposed judgment. All I am asking for is a signed judgment so I can appeal his final decision! The other party is not pressing for a judgment because she knows that my client will honor the terms of the decision even without a judgment, and that he can't appeal without the judgment. Ridiculous! Judge Dabel should not be on the bench, and certainly not in family law.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA30937
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This updates my 4/8/2020 post. The hostility appeared. As is so common in Family Law Court (Judges, Attorneys and Mental Health Professionals) due to the high level of self-selection bias, expect this man to exhibit all the behaviors that comprise Narcissistic Personality Disorder. This personality/character disorder results in a skewed view of reality. He is incapable of recognizing and understanding familial abuse, manipulation and control (as well as the resulting trauma) because he engages in this behavior and believes it is normal. He is an example of why Family Law Courts must be disbanded in favor of a rational, ethical, reality-based, child-centered model: https://www.womenscoalitioninternational.org/enact-child-custody-act.html

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA29265
Rating:1.3

Comments:
Based of the prior comments, I was expecting hostility. I detected none. What I heard was an extremely unintelligent man who is completely unaware that he is simply not equipped to handle any aspect of the job. To make matters worse, he is just lazy. He claimed to have read the pleadings, but demonstrated no understanding of the facts or the law. He has no idea what actual powers he has (and doesn't have), including simple matters of jurisdiction that we learned in first year law school. No effort. No interest. Simply does not care. He needs to be sent back to the DA's office to prosecute Kitten Killers. That is his calling. Our Family Law Courts (and our children) deserve so much better than this.

Litigant

Comment #: CA29068
Rating:1.0

Comments:
horrible - doesn't even know the powers he has by law, which is to force a settlement. Instead, he acts like a prosecutor and takes sides and enjoys berating and cutting down to size the side he prejudices.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA27038
Rating:1.0

Comments:
He needs to be off the family court cases

Other

Comment #: CA27037
Rating:2.0

Comments:
He has an abuse of power attitude, does not understand domestic violence or child abuse and should not be running family court. He sided with the men that are the antagonist as well as turns the cheek for white women, but he allows our children of color to be re victimized and traumatized. He does not listen or care about us and only has one scwed view which is a child is property. He just ended up on our case without any knowledge of the history he says to one family oh CPS has no weight in my courtroom to one case then says on another well since all the reporting to CPS are unsubstantiated (that means there is something but not enough evidence)he is disrespectful if you try to speak but he is talking it's like he thinks he is a king. He makes eye gestures with the offending party and threatens the non offending party to cause stress and fear. He is on board with narcissistic abuse. He may have the same tendencies is why he doesn't even see the problem.

Litigant

Comment #: CA25810
Rating:9.0

Comments:
Overall my court experience was very good. It’s important that if you are representing yourself and you can’t afford an attorney go to the Facilitators office. Nudge Dabel wants people to use that free help. He will listen and try to explain the process to you but the facilitator did help. Be ready when your case is called because the hearings move fast and the Judge has many many people to see. Just tell the truth and he will know what to do to help you. The Judge only cares about how the kids are doing not yelling in court and acting crazy.

Litigant

Comment #: CA24232
Rating:10.0

Comments:
10 years and 4 judges later, finally something good could be happening for San Mateo Family Court. Former Family Court judges were burnt out, letting a criminal run games on the system, commit perjury over and over while violating every court order. They had no spine to enforce, truly penalize, or they just didn't give a damn about their job. I was skeptical that Dabel would be different but he cut to the chase, was no nonsense, and firm with the criminal. I suppose it's appropriate they finally assign someone with experience dealing with criminals to clean up the Family Court. It's long overdue and so infested with garbage crooks in disguise that former Family Court judges could not handle.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA23624
Rating:2.8

Comments:
Judge Dabel takes the bench unprepared on the facts and the law. He is quick to anger, does not handle is calendar efficiently, and is condescending to attorneys and litigants. He adopts FCS recommendation by rubber stamp.

Litigant

Comment #: CA22704
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Judge Daniel is being indoctrinated by the family law system of abuse and wealth of power in the very small courthouse of San Mateo. The shocking part is that he is commuting these acts, as he’s going to take the fall for those who far deserve harsher punishment. This is not High-school and being pressured to do as his peers direct. Judge Dabel has to own that he willingly signed his name to fraud, with witness testimony. His days are already numbered, but the damage done is immense to many. Peer pressure is sometimes an excuse at 12 years of age; not by Family Court Judges.

Other

Comment #: CA22664
Rating:2.0

Comments:
Judge Dabel clearly hates family, knows little to nothing about it and he is extremely sexist. If a woman goes up against a man, good luck. I have argued many sh**** motions and positions, never having to get fired up. When women argue before I almost laugh to myself a bit, because, the best way to lose with Sean Dabel is to have a woman yelling at him.

Other

Comment #: CA22235
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
I have documents of fraud committed by Dabel and confirmed by San Mateo records, and submitted to Appellate Court.

Litigant

Comment #: CA13348
Rating:7.0

Comments:
I have to admit very fair. It has been a 13 year custody battle. He listened and was very fair.