"The Robing Room: CA State Judges

Hon. Monica Bachner	See Rating Details
Judge Superior Court
Los Angeles County	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 4.7 - 10 rating(s) Non-Attorney Average Rating: 1.0 - 2 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. Monica Bachner

Comments

Litigant

Comment #: CA54437
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge resigned her post in April 2023.

She was prone to issuing sanctions against anyone acting in pro per in discovery and to believe anything defense counsel threw at her [which included lies].

In the end, for me, she and her staff let the defendants off the hook. She called an amended complaint a sham pleading due to the change of one word regarding the official capacity of a manager - which was moot.

I don't think she wrote any of her rulings or opinions; research staff did it.

Result: appellate court.

Good riddance.

PS At morning calendar hearings, she always stayed in chambers - during late 21- early 23.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA38409
Rating:2.3

Comments:
After 33 years in SoCal trial courts, I have never experienced a judge with an actual and total lack of competence and grasp of case law. She is fundamentally incapable of understanding complex litigation - strategically, if you have a complex civil case, immediately figure out your options to switch judges. Bachner should be removed from such cases and placed in another department. Highly deferential to defendants, we may all be safer now that Ms Bachner is no longer a US Attorney.

Other

Comment #: CA36762
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
She gets petty and bitter if pro per litigants call her "madam" by mistake instead of your honor, she gets also mad if you are not introducing yourself "properly" according to her own standards, she doesn't care if people are sick, she will order them to come to court anyway, even with covid, she snaps every two seconds, she will order plaintiffs in pro per who don't even know how to call her "your honor" to give legal notice to opposing defense counsel even when she continues hearings against the plaintiff's interest. She is too defense-oriented and doesn't care at all about any of the rights of the plaintiffs.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA35217
Rating:8.2

Comments:
Reversed her own tentative after oral argument-unusual to have a judge w/ enough patience to hear arguments and get to that point. Even-tempered. Wants to be fair.

Court Staff

Comment #: CA32733
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
She is a disgrace and does not know anything about Civil Litigation with regard to collection matters and even admitted as such. Why wouldn't a Judge recuse herself if she is not familiar with cases of that nature. More evidence that Degrees from Ivy League more times than not do not translate into Judge's who have common sense and correct application of the law.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA32694
Rating:9.3

Comments:
Had Judge Bachner in an evidentiary hearing on a civil matter. She was very kind to my clients who were sick, and continued their hearing. She also accommodated the attorneys and appeared to be fair in her ruling. She had a generally friendly demeanor, and is willing to listen to both arguments and is open to learning. Nice to see a good judge.

Other

Comment #: CA32272
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
She is a horrible judge dismisses a case of the plantiff before it even gets to trail. She in unfair and unethical. She does not rat on evidence.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA28481
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Something like robing room could be helpful, especially when it comes to the tricks and differences between different judges etc, but it isn't when everyone trashes every judge. Did a trial before Judge Bachner and RR reviews weren't encouraging, almost papered her, but the 4 lawyers I talked to spoke highly of her. Hard working, smart, demanding and yet forgiving when appropriate. Did not necessarily agree with every ruling (though she was probably right), but nothing but fair. Even when I lost arguments etc, I never thought she was unfair. I would try every case with her.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA24183
Rating:1.0

Comments:
She needs to be removed from the bench. Judge Bachner is so defense oriented that she routinely refuses to follow the law; going out of her way to find for the defense, not only making arguments for them she willingly makes factual determinations she has no right to make.
Hopefully she will leave the bench before she has to run again and try to profit from all the gifts she has given defense counsel in her stint as a civil judge, but if does run I will support anyone who runs against her.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA22218
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Just a bad judge

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA19789
Rating:1.0

Comments:
On the bench she pretends to be evenhanded but her rulings are anything but. She is not fit to be in a civil courtroom and all lawyers representing plaintiffs should affidavit her.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA11173
Rating:1.0

Comments:
She is very defense oriented. Will bend over backwards to assist defense. Sustain all defense objections. Limited knowledge of civil. When not sure which way to go she will lean towards defense arguments and accept their word. Can be demeaning and rude. Demonstrates lack of patience with pro pers. Talks down to plaintiffs counsel and minorites. You may as well have another defense firm in the room if you have a case with her.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA3677
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Well balanced judge that allows you to questions witnesses without interruption or challenging your style. Intelligence coupled with professionalism. No issues with her and I have appeared before well over 200 judges in 32 States.