"The Robing Room: CA State Judges

Hon. Lawrence Cho	See Rating Details
Judge Superior Court
Los Angeles County	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 4.0 - 37 rating(s) Non-Attorney Average Rating: 3.0 - 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. Lawrence Cho

Comments

Litigant

Comment #: CA49135
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Is Judge Cho that stupid or lazy to deny black letter law? The LA Housing Dept. Official Letter stated: the Landlord could not evict me. Judge Cho ignored the LAHD which is based on the higher CA Housing legislation authority. Cho is allowing an illegal eviction. Why ? By ignoring the law! Why would Cho do such an evil thing? [Redacted by Ed.]

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA41305
Rating:1.7

Comments:
Used his personal biases rather than following the rule of law. Rushed, did not listen or even look at the evidence presented. No one is perfect but one hopes that a person in a position of judgement uses it in an equitable manner rather than letting his prejudices color his decisions.

Litigant

Comment #: CA39395
Rating:10.0

Comments:
He was awesome. Small claims case. I presented my case, then opposing party just said lie after lie and trashed talked me. Then I asked Judge Cho if I should rebut it and he said "No." A week later (hearing was between Christmas and New Years) I won case. Judge is very no-nonsense, so if you have actual evidence and maintain your composure, you have a good chance in his court.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA33819
Rating:3.1

Comments:
I was a victim of a con-artist who claimed I owed him $7k. The con-artist never delivered. I was recovering from a heart attack and a stroke so I was heavily medicated and asked for a continuance. The continuance was denied. The con-artist who asked for thousands of dollars for equipment that was never delivered prevailed. In my opinion, and I've been an attorney for close to 20 years, this guy is not a judge and should be removed from the bench.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA29976
Rating:1.0

Comments:
The worse judge I have ever encountered.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA22408
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Judge Cho has a thorough knowledge of the law, and doesn't get sidetracked by noisy & theatrical filings purposely designed to detract from a losing position & lack of legal standing. Judge Cho drills down to the legal point, focused, well considered, and legally correct!

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA22398
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Judge Cho allowed the plaintiffs in my case to commit perjury in his face on a retaliatory eviction case. The plaintiffs lied and stated that they did not know about my complaint with HUD for racial discrimination. The judge allowed me to get my proof that I had told the plaintiffs about my complaint in December. The plaintiffs stopped accepting rent from me that month and filed an unlawful detainer the following January. Judge Cho, upon reviewing my evidence; stated “You guys lied, it’s right here that she told you in December” yet we continued with the trial. Perjury and illegal eviction (retaliatory). Yet I lost. Judge Cho threw the book at me. My life is turned completely upside down because he allowed a retaliatory eviction to proceed. This guy should not be allowed to “judge” anything!

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA21052
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Our firm has appeared before Judge Cho several times. Cho properly applies statutes and is legally knowledgeable

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA20564
Rating:1.3

Comments:
NOT ABLE TO SEPARATE HIS OBVIOUS PERSONAL VIEWS FROM JURISPRUDENCE

it seems none of his decisions and writings are reflective of complex legal analysis, knowledge of the law, or ability to write about complex matters in a clear and cogent manner

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA18985
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Judge Cho knows the law and gets it right. Very impressed!

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA16966
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Judge Cho slices through the baloney and gets correctly to the legal issue. As others note, Judge Cho properly applies the law and isn't distracted by bs.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA16912
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Absolutely horrible experience, this judge is a joke. I filed Ex Parte motion to strike the defendant’s MSJ because they violated the court rules. I explained to judge that the defendant ignored a ’meet and confer’ process, even California rules in this matter is stating that a moving party must ’meet and confer’ with opposing party at least five days before filing this motion. Judge Cho replied point blank: ”rules doesn’t matter.” Wow... he told me that RULES DOESN’T MATTER? Then I continued that a Proof of Service by Defendant was not correct because I didn’t receive all the documents. He replied ”okay... so?”. Wow... I can’t believe Mr. Cho is a judge. I bet that all these dishonest LA attorneys that are opposing pro per plaintiffs loves this dummy. My own judge, judge Rosenberg, is beyond professional compared this nervous wreck who doesn’t even understand the California rules. How I can opposite Defendant’s motion for summary judgment without all the documents?

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA16856
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Excellent judge.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA14816
Rating:3.5

Comments:
Strongly consider using a 170.6 challenge if you are assigned to Judge Cho. He used to be a US attorney, worked at a top firm, and has been a judge on the Superior Court for some time. And yet. He makes shockingly egregious errors that are not readily defensible (see, S.M. v. Los Angeles Unified School District, Case No. B253983). In so erring, he presents his positions with certainty. I have never before witnessed attorneys in the gallery audibly express shock at a judge's rulings. That has happened just about everytime I have been in Judge Cho's department. He is not the absolute worst LASC judge - he is punctual and has a decent, though far from great temperament - he just gets things totally wrong and seems not to have a grasp on justice or the duties of his post. It is very frustrating litigating in front of Judge Cho because he is, for whatever reason, totally over-matched by the duties of his job. There are a few judges - like, two or three - in LASC on the civil panel that are more incapable of discharging their duties than Judge Cho.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA10821
Rating:8.7

Comments:
I represented a defendant against pro per plaintiffs. Judge Cho was extremely attentive, taking thorough notes of testimony of every witness. When plaintiffs proved unable to conduct proper witness examination, Judge Cho took over the examinations for them, including drawing out evidence on damages they would not have otherwise presented. While this chagrined me, Judge Cho showed an evenhandedness by allowing me leeway in my questioning as well. All in all, he conducted the trial with extraordinary patience and attentiveness, and general evenhandedness though applied with the goal of assisting plaintiffs to present their entire case. I was stunned to see reviews charging him with impatience and inattentiveness, as this could not be further from what we experienced.

Other

Comment #: CA10160
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
jury duty candidate

Other

Comment #: CA9790
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
One of the worst judges I have come across. He does not listen, he is always in a hurry, and doesn't have any compassion for each individual case. A poor choice for a judge. I hope he can better himself and his demeanor, and that a great judge is one who listens to each case/person, and compassionately makes a decision.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA8652
Rating:1.4

Comments:
Not an intellectual heavy-weight; petty; tardy; non-collegian; arrogant. Still cannot believe he was appointed to the bench.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA8534
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Judge Cho listen to the facts and was FAIR.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA8042
Rating:1.0

Comments:
judge cho is a disgrace to justice. he is not even able to understand the facts of cases presented to him , how was this man ever able to get to this position.? the damage he does daily on the bench is very upsetting.

Other

Comment #: CA7864
Rating:2.0

Comments:
The judge is always in a rush, and doesn't listen to the parties w. particular interest, and has a someone said in the courts, "The Judge takes the Easy Way Out" of any case.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA6902
Rating:1.0

Comments:
WoW!? How bad can you get?? this so-called judge doesn't even understand discovery rules and grants frivolous Motions to Compel and fails to understand or apply the most basic rules such as the requirement to meet and confer before filing a MTC!!! How is this possible?? My client and I are concerned about trial with this guy!!

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA6256
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Doesn't anyone see the pattern here? He is incapable of doing his job. He obviously lacks common sense. Look at Kangaroo Court proceedings and now L.A. Unified. How much more evidence does one need? Get with the program and get this joker out!!!

Other

Comment #: CA5824
Rating:1.0

Comments:
TERRIBLE I had true financial hardship and he absolutely ignored my request to be relieved of my jury duty. He is mean and completely unreasonable. I think he on an ego trip with nothing to back it up

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA5803
Rating:1.2

Comments:
Lawrence Cho is awful. He showed himself to be mean spirited and on a power trip, just because his position affords him to be. In advance of my jury duty selection date I thought I could do jury duty but unfortunately I got very sick. I went there with a doctor's note saying I'm under his care and highly contagious and given my state, can't think well. (I'm on antibiotics and some other meds.) The clerks gave my request to Cho about five times but Cho refused to release me or talk to me. I should have been home in bed but instead had to sit up in the air conditioned room for three days and got sicker and sicker. I did my best quarantine myself, sitting apart from the others, in the waiting room and halls. It was wrong for me to be there. This morning I could no longer get out of bed so called the jury clerk and said I can't come in. I'm sure Cho will be vindictive about it. Clearly I have no rights and it was beyond my control. I spoke to a judge friend of mine and he said Cho could have easily let me go, and it would have been the normal thing to do. But not for Cho- with no humanity! I read his profile online and see that in 2012 he was assigned without a vote since there was no opposition. I hope another judge opposes him in 2019 and he gets voted out!

Other

Comment #: CA5782
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
I didn't see him for traffic nor did I go through a trial with him but I thought he was a very fair and compassionate judge.

I had jury duty and I, along with many other people, had to claim financial hardship. When we all gave our reasons for why we couldn't be there for a 5 to 6 week trial, he listened intently, seemed like he cared, and fairly dismissed those who actually had a real hardship.

And I thought he was quite handsome too! :-))

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA5590
Rating:7.6

Comments:
This judge is no nonsense kind of individual but also quite personable. He cuts straight to the quick and sees through a lot of b/s. He is tough but fair, and willing to allow parties quite a bit of leeway in presenting their case through testimony. He is not loossey goossey and does not split the baby in his rulings on pretrial motion by reserving judgment. He makes a definite decision and a clear concise ruling, forcing the parties to accept and move on. He was very engaged in bridging the parties through active participation in the settlement process. Seems quit evenhanded.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA5478
Rating:3.0

Comments:
His courtroom is a free for all for defendants; he yells, belittles plaintiffs; he is the landlord judge

Civil Litigation - Govt.

Comment #: CA5458
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
just Cho should not be a judge, he is totally biased against tennants! beware if you want a fare trial!

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA4687
Rating:1.1

Comments:
He is completely unable to function in a manner that is consistent with the law. He continuously applies both the law and courtroom procedural rules in an unfair and unbalanced manner. He appears to generally always go against the defendant. I'm not sure who wrote about enjoying the experience, but they must mean to enjoy the star chamber proceedings, in which he so grossly violates standards of "due process."

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA4653
Rating:1.1

Comments:
Please, let's all rise for Santa Monica's worst judge! I am certain many others will agree that his many shortcomings as a jurist are a travesty of justice. There is a reason that he has a video of his kangaroo court antics. He is a buffoon, with motives that have nothing to do with justice, simply because he doesn't even understand the basics of procedure. Anyone who can pretend otherwise is just as ignorant.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA4646
Rating:9.9

Comments:
Judge Cho is the most intelligent and professional bench officer I have had the pleasure to work with for years! If someone dislikes him, it is either because they are ignorant of the law and want to try to manipulate him to no avail, or they are wholly unprepared and unable to practice real law. As long as you are prepared, and know the law and civil procedure, you will enjoy the experience. If you're looking for a pushover judge, don't bother coming here. He is pleasant and respectful when you are pleasant and respectful of the judicial system!

Other

Comment #: CA4549
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This is the worst judge in the history of the court system. He does not understand facts, nor does he pay attention to what one has to say. Whatever comes into his mind, at the time, is how he rules. He ignores facts and makes nonsense statements with so many mistakes! He needs therapy and to be on leave from the courts. This is extremely bad for the judicial system.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA4535
Rating:1.3

Comments:
Judge Cho is by far the worst judge I have ever had the displeasure of dealing with. He has not become more seasoned with time, just more prejudicial.
This judge appears to lack sufficient intelligence to understand simple jurisdictional law. He does not read (or at least fails to reference) memos citing obvious, well-known precedent. Instead, he appears to do extremely facile research of his own, perhaps relying on Google. (Then again, we all know clerks are the real judges. Maybe he's not the guilty party.) Once he takes a side, forget it. He ignored my opponent's blatant mendacity and insulted my honesty when I had been completely candid, and he put it in writing, for the world to see. He went to extraordinary lengths to provide my opponent with a chance to revive a case, after a dismissal that should have been the final nail in the coffin.

Court Staff

Comment #: CA4479
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Judge Cho is single-handedly the best judge that I have had the pleasure of working for. He is remarkably fair, unbiased, and understands the law. He is brilliant. There are probably few attorneys that can keep up with his intellect. He is very hardworking. He is very considerate of his staff and the jurors and attorneys. He is level-headed and doesn't get rattled easily. He is by far one of my favorite judges in all of L.A. County. He is respectful of everyone who enters his courtroom. He is the utmost example of professionalism that I have seen. It's a pleasure to work in his courtroom.

Litigant

Comment #: CA3556
Rating:1.0

Comments:
If anyone would run against him, there is no way Judge Cho would get re-elected. Unprofessional and uncivil do not go far enough in describing what I believe to be the worst judge in Los Angeles/Santa Monica

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA3554
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Unbelievably biased toward landlords, disregards facts, laws (because he has no knowledge of them), and evidence, and makes snap judgments without any consideration or reason. How is he still in that robe?

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA3252
Rating:1.1

Comments:
Judge Cho has zero regard for rules of evidence, civil procedure, and refuses to take into consideration valid legal facts from the tenants' side. He is extremely biased. Will always side with the landlords buying any excuse their defense lawyers make up on the fly, and completely ignoring the laws. If you are a tenant, paper this judge.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA3152
Rating:2.4

Comments:
Judge Cho is simply not a good judge even though he may try. We are not all born equal, and his level of intuitiveness and being able to read the whole picture is extremely low. It takes more than reading the material to understand a case. Judge Cho simply does not have it.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA3144
Rating:1.8

Comments:
Awful. Ignores the law and has no appreciation for rules of evidence or the constitution. He is an embarrassment to the robe.

Litigant

Comment #: CA2613
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I was in the courtroom today and witnessed the most unfair/corrupt business practices..This poor young lady had a strong defense...she raised the question of due process and how she did not receive due process, she also noted several civil codes and defenses to argue her case...judge cho refused to consider the facts of her case..he began to verbally attack the young lady for owning an IPAD..she tried several times to explain that the IPAD was a gift...he refused then ruled against her solely because she owns an IPAD..the young lady stood said OMG you did this to me last time...you never looked at my evidence...she said I was laid off..and I have nothing! She continued to talk he threatened to hold her in contempt. I wish I had helped this young lady!

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA2612
Rating:1.8

Comments:
This judge does not know the law, does not know what pleadings he is reading; he favors banks and landlords. Those are the people who are giving him tens. It is so corrupt. Please -an independent journalist should go undercover in that courtroom. He would be thrown off the bench.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA2458
Rating:1.0

Comments:
He is a complete clown and anyone who thinks otherwise is a fool. He is completely biased and ignorant of remedial rules and procedures

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA2415
Rating:2.0

Comments:
Does not consider evidence and one sided! please people someone has to stop this guy from evicting innocent families! He ignores valid evidence if it helps tenants and considers owners testimony without any evidence to support their claims. It's frustrating to see tenants who were robbed of their rights to due process! If you get Cho file a 170.6!

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA2337
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Judge Cho is one of the rising stars in the judicial world. He is extremely fair and understands the law. He gets to the heart of the matter extremely quickly and is not afraid to rule from the bench. He expects you to be well-prepared because he also does his homework. He is the next Sanjay Kumar!

Litigant

Comment #: CA2266
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I've been in front of this judge more than once and he always the same. Blatantly and outwardly biased against tenants no matter how correct in legal standing their case may be. If you are a tenant you are guilty of anything and everything the landlord makes up to get their judgment. This judge happily ignores valid evidence if it helps the tenant in any way. This judge happily takes away affirmative defenses from tenants with no regard for rights or the law concerning this whatsoever. If you get Cho - file a 170.6 immediately, unless you are a landlord. This guy should not be on the bench. Blatant miscarriage of law and justice is routine with him

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA2199
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Gets to the crux of the matter quickly and decisively. Has low tolerance for bad excuses. Becomes very intellectual when there are real controversies to discuss.

Litigant

Comment #: CA1741
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Incompetent, plays favorites with Dennis Blocks legal team. No knowledge of civil codes, and has no regard for legal system. He doesnt base his ruling on evidence. Easily distracted. He does not deserve to be in a power position!

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA1144
Rating:1.7

Comments:
Makes up his mind easily without much consideration for a side he doesn't like. Very little respect for laws protecting indigent litigants.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA511
Rating:3.0

Comments:
No understanding of the rules of evidence.