"The Robing Room: CA State Judges

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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. Wendy Coats

Comments

Other

Comment #: CA54936
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
I had this judge two years ago and she ripped my family apart! I get these notices and every time my heart goes out to another person affected by her. She had a news article written about her code of conduct in the courtroom! She was taken out of family court , thank god! But now is in charge of domestic violence and restraining orders for Contra Costa County ! Please follow through and make your statements heard! File a report with the Commission on Judicial performance. Judge Coats you’re a horrible judge!

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA54934
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Judge Wendy Coats!
My God this judge is horrible! She is only a restraining order Judge. So I’m these today for my restraining order. She started asking me where am I staying. Why would she ask me that in front of my kids father. I literally had to move because my kids father is on drugs, he got shot a month ago thereafter he was driving his car and he crash the car. He abducted my son a sped off with him in the front seat with no car seat. There were skid marks and the police found my son and arrested him. I didn’t want to date him anymore the guy told me there’s only one way out of this. I fear for my life and my sons. She asked me well do you have a job? I said I’m a college student. She asked her what school do you go to and what are the times. Sounds like to me she wants my ex to know where to find me. Him and his family came into court smelling like weed. Stepmom wearing pajamas and they came to court late. It’s like she was mad at me because in my paperwork I stated I’m taking pre med classes. She didn’t ask him any questions. He was so shocked when she said he gets custody starting tomorrow for four days. Then two days then four days. His criminal history is so bad they tried to convince us on break to let’s just drop it we don’t want these people in our business. I asked the judge my son is part of the restraining order right? She became even more pissed and she didn’t answer. Just began shuffling papers. I just read her reviews and she treated me horrible and my God she has a history of this. Something definitely has happened to her in the past. The reason I say this is because there is no way you give custody to an individual that is fighting criminal cases. This man did time for drug trafficking to another state! Did 6 months on a first time offenders program. With 10 years probation in which you can’t have a felony. He lied to that judge and yes he has a felonies and misdemeanors in California. He’s fight a case for drugs and ammunition. She don’t care for kids. I’m sorry if something bad has happened to you as a kid or an adult. They say hurt people hurt people. God Bless everyone! We must fight for the kids. I was abused and molested as a kid. And my goal was always to protect my kid. Breaking the cycle!

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA53998
Rating:1.0

Comments:
She is the biggest joke of a "judge" I've ever seen. Quite possibly the dumbest, most incompetent, evil imposter I've ever witnessed. She needs to be stopped before she ruins the lives of more children and parents. Her very presence is a stench in the CCC judicial system.

Other

Comment #: CA53863
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Negligence one sided and had no confidence in her decision. Judge coats allowed my ex to make the decision in her ruling as she asked her three times. She said she was siding with my ex based on the amount she spent on her attorney! Kangaroo court with a kangaroo judge. These liberal judges think they are above the constitution. I have never committed a crime yet was treated as a criminal for fighting to get custody. This judge disgusts me and is a disgrace to all judges. She should be removed

Other

Comment #: CA53310
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Judge Coats is the worst of the worst. She represents insanity, incompetence, foolishness, selfishness, immaturity, abuse of power, and plain chaos.

She revels in the abuse that she does to people as a way of getting back at men for never allowing her ugly, fat ass to succeed in Hollywood. Disgusting in every way.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA53309
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Also, just to be clear, I was using the "lit on fire" below as a metaphor for burning trash, not as a signal that anyone should do harm to this judge or threaten her physical body.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA53308
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I am an attorney myself, [Redacted by Ed.] She not only doesn't know anything about the law, she plainly does not care about anyone. I can't explain how biased, stupid, narrow-minded, arrogant, abrasive, ugly and evil this woman is. She brings dishonor to the entire court system. She got demoted from the family courts to only handle DV matters because of how incompetent and biased she is.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA52950
Rating:1.4

Comments:
I'm an attorney. This is single handedly the worst judge in front of whom I've ever had the displeasure is advocating. She hates men. Interrupts everyone. Is condescending and ineffectual. Even worse than bowen

Other

Comment #: CA52754
Rating:1.0

Comments:
[Redacted by Ed.] My case with her was back when she was in the family court, civil case. On a support hearing. Before a hearing, I believed in the justice in America but since I seen it with my own eyes, I believe that judges like her should be permanently removed from the bench.
My case started when my ex false accused me of domestic violence. Fortunately for me the DV hearing was with a different judge that retired now, a just and fair judge. This judge caused so much harm then good just because she is ignoring everything. At the time I was making about $40k /year. My ex was making about $30k/year. Due to the restraining order (1year) I lost my job. I showed the judge that I lost my job. She ordered me to look for a job( fair). No problem. Her discriminatory behavior started when I couldn’t afford an attorney. I had to represent myself at the next hearing. This racist and discriminating judge, changed her story and ordered me to pay $3000/month on support. Unbelievable. I couldn’t afford to pay anything since we have 1 child that we have 50/50 custody. I failed for an appeal( documents not sent to my attorney yet since 2022). Since then and because of the discrimination, I ended failing for bankruptcy and the federal court discharged everything except the support. Currently the DCSS after me to pay $70k and since I can not afford that. DMV revoked my driving license, dca denied my state license for work. I am back again to lose my job but this time I will be losing my kid as well since I can not provide food for him.
Nb: my ex was married to me just for documentation. She planned all this and accused me of DV 5 days after her citizenship ceremony. Judge like this one ruining families and kids lives. This judge should be in jail if it was a fair justice system.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA52117
Rating:1.0

Comments:
JUDGE IS THEE WORST JUDGE YOU WILL EVER COME ACROSS, I RECENTLY HAD A CASE FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RESTRAINING ORDER BECAUSE MY KIDS FATHER WAS MASTURBATING INFRONT OF THEM, IN THE SAME ROOM IN THE SAME BED AND SHE DID NOT SEE THIS AS ABUSE. SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE HAD A FEELING I WAS GETTING INTO MY KIDS HEAD AND THAT I WAS PUTTING THEM IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THIS , EVEN AFTER MY 13 Y.O WENT TO TESTIFY AND SAID EVERYTHING THAT HAD HAPPENED. SHE SAID IT SOUNDED TO HER LIKE I WAS CONTRADICTING MY SELD SHE MADE IT SEEM LIKE I WAS THE BAD ONE WHEN IN REALITY THE OTHER PARTY WAS THE ONE CAUSING ALL THIS TRAUMA.
SHE WOULD LET THE OTHER PARTY TALK BAD ABOUT ME AND BASH ME AS A MOTHER BUT WHEN IT WAS MY TURN TO TALK SHE WOULD CUT ME OFF AND TELL ME IT WAS IRRELEVANT TO THE CASE, THAT SHE DIDNT CARE ABOUT THINGS I WOULD TRY TO MENTION ABOUT THAT WERE RELEVANT TO THE CASE. SHE DENIED THE RESTRAINING ORDER AND AFTER GAVE THE FATHER THE OPTION TO PICK AND CHOOSE THE DATES HE WANTED TO SEE MY KIDS. HOW CAN SHE SAY THIS ISNT ABUSE.ABUSE IS NOT ONLY SEXUALLY IS PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY.MY KIDS DONT WANT TO VISIT THEIR FATHER , THEY DONT FEEL COMFORTABLE AND SHE IS FORCING THEM TO GO. FROM MY EXPERIENCE AND AFTER READING ALL THESE REVIEWS, IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE SHE DOESNT KNOW WHAT SHE IS DOING. SHE IS PUTTING KIDS LIFES AT DANGER. SHE IS RUINING PEOPLES LIFES CAUSING TRAUMA TO KIDS.SHE IS RACIST , HER FACIAL EXPRESSIONS AND THE WAY SHE TALKS TO THE ATTORNEYS AND THE PARTIES PRESENTING THEIR CASES IS VERY UNPROFESSIONAL. SHE IS TERRIBLE, SHE NEEDS TO BE TAKEN OUT OF THIS ROLE. SHE DOES NOT PRACTICE JUSTICE, SHE IS UNFAIR.SHE MAKES THE WRONG DECISIONS.

Other

Comment #: CA49289
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I made a comment on the ratings section about 3 weeks ago. I made sure tu submit it. I found out that my comment was removed completely. This is how the justice system works. If they don’t like it, the remove it. This judge is RACIST 100%

Other

Comment #: CA48747
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge is terrible. Read this article written about her. She needs to be removed from the bench immediately.

https://usaherald.com/how-come-we-dont-review-who-judges-our-judges-a-story-of-judge-wendy-coats-et-al/

Other

Comment #: CA48740
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Great judge. Listens to both sides and makes a judgement based on facts. She protects children from drug addicts with domestic violence in the household. She is calm and levelheaded.

Litigant

Comment #: CA48580
Rating:2.0

Comments:
Although she seems fair and competent at first, she quickly forms an irrational (emotional) opinion that makes her bias for unknown reasons. She has emotional reactions, from my perspective to women, and rules against the protected party if she doesn’t like you. Without a lawyer you don’t stand a chance. If she doesn’t like your lawyer you don’t stand a chance. She is highly opinionated which is displayed by being overly nice to men and reactionary and rude to women. She says thing like, “you only filed 3 pages” when in fact you have court certified filings of over 27 pages. If you are late, she marks you as a no show. If you make a mistake on a court date your are discredited in Her eyes. She asks a question the. When you try to answer she gets irritated and says “why are you still talking.” To have had a therapist, police and judge all support your abuse claim, only to have this Judge treat you with disrespect and shut down anything you say, is abusive. Having a protected party pay for the attorney fees of the abuser when protected party couldn’t even afford an attorney for herself is criminal. $7500 awarded to abuser for his attorney fees after dismissing my request for a restraining order. I felt humiliated and hopeless, causing me to avoid trial, because I could already tell she was bias against me and nothing I said would change her mind. To then appear and have the abuser who makes twice what I make and who is $63,000 in child support arrears awarded $7500 in attorney fees? This is how protected parties give up. Bias judge. Ultimately hurts children by penalizing a mom who was kicked repeatedly in the presence of her daughter at a therapy office. It’s shameful.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA48457
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
I just wrote my story to abc news 7 on your side! This women needs to be taken out of the courtroom. She abuses her power and does not deserve to be in a superior position! If you want to join this movement my number is 925-374-2376 jenna

Litigant

Comment #: CA48452
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
0 rated zero! Not only is she racist beyond Racist she ignores the law and makes her decision on her emotional based prejudice not based on the law or the obvious nor with the 400 pages of evidence! She is NOT ethical, rolls her eyes at you in court,patronizes the victim/survivors of domestic violence , abuses the court system with her blatant misuse of power and authority. She mocks you in front of the entire courtroom and other people, publicly humiliates you, makes her own judgement literally the first day she sees you live. She places young children with the 6 foot 3 350 pound WHITE rich drug addict who abused me for 8 years documented known with the police !!! She needs immediate impeachment!!!

Other

Comment #: CA48432
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Judge Coats doesn't even know basic law. She threatened to prosecute me for showing surreptitious videos and audio recordings of my wife attacking me -- she didn't even know that this was legal to film. Once I presented her with the law, she became silent and then switched to some other attack, saying that I didn't have proper transcripts of the film or audio. I then prepared transcripts and she then said they were inaccurate and that I was trying to lie to the court. She also forced me to hand over all of my impeachment evidence ahead of trial -- she's a complete joke and revels in tyranny, evil, emotional abuse, etc. She has no problem ruining people's lives. She is a disgrace, and I fully believe that she will pay back her misdeeds, whether it's in this life or the next.

Litigant

Comment #: CA47520
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Judge Coat should not be in a court room. She is not competent to resolve any issues. In 2021 when she was a family judge. She handled my case. We had 50/50 custody ordred by a different judge ( after false allegations). Because the other judge saw my ex lying and admitted that she lied. Because of judges like Coat, our kids life was ruined. The judge ordered me to like for a job after I lost my job due to the false allegations. I was represented at that time. The next hearing after that I didn’t have an attorney. Judge coat violated all my rights.
1. She denied me a continuance based on the doc was full knowing that it was a substitute of attorney recently.
2. She refused me to show her documents proving my actual income.
3. She listen to the other party for 30 min and when it’s my turn to present my case. She give me less that 5 min and cut me off when my ex was speaking in my turn and she give the microphone.
4. She ordered me to pay support based on one transaction from another bank account.
5. She let the other party not disclose her bank’s account.
6. She ordered me to pay my entire salary for a 50/50 custody on support.
I filled a motion to get credit for the child care expenses. She denied it and she sanctioned me with a $1000 fine.
And there is more and more. Because of the actions of judge Coat. I ended up going to the Supreme Court for justice. Judge Coat should not remain in the bunch. Because of the actions of a judge like her, a kid sufferes day after day as I can not provide for him anymore.
Judge Coat does not apply the law and liked an easy way out. She abused her power on my case and ruined my life and my kids life. She doesn’t know what “ the best interest of the kids” mean.

Other

Comment #: CA47291
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I do not think I can say better then many previous comments. Judge Coats nay get some of her cases correct by pure statistics but she is a predetermined judge who cannot and does not allow any evidence to be presented that changes her mental narrative. Run don’t walk to another judge. My Sister is white elderly, disabled and unfortunately unattractive due to weight gain cancer survivor and physical abuse. The judge immediately judged her as guilty since her abuser is looks like a light skinned African American Santa Claus. The judge posts on face book that she is Woke, so she is proving it by not allowing the man my sister married, was with for 40plus years had 2 children with must obviously be prejudice and therefore is guilty. It was a real WTF moment when the judge didn’t allow my sister to ever complete a sentence. Address the guns in her exs possession, or allow evidence to prove my sisters innocence or Burt Broussard’s guilt. This man has a history of violence, sexual impropriety and his story has changed 3 times during the process. Yet Judge Coats refers to him as a nice and kind man. My sister is blind in one eye, due to his abuse and the judge will not even look at the evidence and literally on record called my sister a liar during a zoom appearance. But she still maintains she is being fair and impartial. The abuser filed first with complaints that my sister doesn’t do car repair, buy insurance and calls 911 when Burt hits her.. and yet the Judge calls him a Kind and Nice nan even though he has weapons at his residence he is a convicted felon and therefore gun ownership is illegal. But Judge coats will not follow California law even though a CLETS report was filed along with a DVOR against Burt Broussard. The Judge gets a fat D+ only because she statistically gets some cases correct. Do not appear in her court without an attorney, borrow money if you have to as this judge is NOT impartial.

Other

Comment #: CA47010
Rating:1.0

Comments:
The worst judge I have ever dealt with. This women should never be able to be in a courtroom! She puts trauma into families , she does not support the parent that did not file first! Takes away parental rights because the opposing attorney asked for my legal rights to be taken so I could not post about anything! I asked for therapy for my son denied! My family was ripped apart! Talks over you doesn’t know a thing about what children need and could care less what her judgments have done!! I hope she never gets to go into a family court position again!!!

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA47007
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Terrible judge. Serious attitude for no apparent reason. Prefers to make allegations against attorneys, and when they respond, cut them off.

Litigant

Comment #: CA45246
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Very biased judge and sides with those who file the motion. (Petitoner) If you don’t have an attorney she will treat you like an incompetent child and side with the party who has an attorney. Don’t catch her in a mistake and tell her because she will spit evil at you. I’ve never encountered a more aggressive and I knowledgeable judge in my life!! She does not remember from one hearing to the next what she ordered and required. She wants an easy way out of having to know her cases by siding with any attorney im the hearing. She does not like a strong educated woman at all. She prefers the meek and uneducated female to act like she is doing some kind of special service for her. Pathetic. No equality. She needs to be removed as a judge a go back to being a rude lawyer.

Litigant

Comment #: CA45074
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
This lady is the definition of dictator. She will ruin lives of families. Thank good she was removed from family court.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA44616
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This piece of garbage needs to be prosecuted for judicial misconduct after every bull.. Sh… hearing she does, she’s a lunatic, bias to contra costa lawyer so watch out for her crap, she’s destroying family matters and people please file judicial misconduct against this evil and she will not prevail anymore. She’s a piece of crap judge who intentionally interfered with Motherhood and caused Protective Mothers to lose custody of their kids to Domestic Terrorists.

Other

Comment #: CA43065
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge has no knowledge of the law. She is one sided if you have no attorney. She will not allow you to present your case. She will discriminate you if you are a men. She ordered support baissed on no evidence. She ordered me to pay what I actually make even though the custody is 50/50. She has no place in family court. If she stayed in family court, she will destroy families. I advice. If she is your judge. Do everything you can to remove her.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA42699
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Part 2: (part 1 posted on 8/12/2022)
Judge Coates was shown proof that the no-contact order was violated every day since her rulings on January 11th, 2021. There was proof that the mother snuck the daughter a cell phone and made physical contact.
A (26) minute tape was presented to the court. This tape was an audio recording of the mother and her new boyfriend instructing the daughter to lie, break things, call the police, and make up false abuse allegations on social media. The mother was also heard telling the child, “Your dad doesn’t love you”, “you are a trophy to him”, and you will not be able to go to school, play sports, or have friends over. All of which were entirely untrue and absurd, as the daughter was maintaining exceptional grades, playing travel sports, and having friends over, when in the custody of her father.
The child was kidnapped by her own mother on April 22nd, 2021. The district attorney, or DA, was prepared to arrest the mother for this incident. But Judge Coates refused to sign off on the order for this arrest to be made. The minor child appeared on a Zoom hearing with the mother for an emancipation hearing on April 23rd, 2021, which was requested secretively by the mother. During that hearing, the mother renounced her parental rights of her minor child to get around the no-contact order. The father did not give up his parental rights and custody remained with him. Judge Coates was fully aware of this emancipation hearing the week before.
Two experts testified that by allowing the minor child to testify, it would be harmful, and she would just be regurgitating the words of the mother. Judge Mills told the mother, 6 months before, that if she ever tried to put the minor child on the stand in her courtroom again, as she attempted in June, that she would lose custody entirely. Nevertheless, Judge Coates allowed the minor child to testify twice in these 7 weeks. Only to end up summarizing that she believed that the daughter was just repeating the words of her mother.
The minor's counsel, the primary care physician of the minor (her doctor since birth), and three doctors at Kaiser, who treated the minor’s eating disorder, all deemed the mother unfit. The minor's counsel requested physical and legal custody remain with the father and a no-contact order to be extended until mother could show that she was fit and would stop the campaign of alienation.
Despite all this, Judge Coates awarded full legal and physical custody to the mother. The father has not spoken to his daughter since. He texts her every week, goes to all her soccer games throughout the country, but has no contact with his daughter. The minor child has since confided in her older brother (22), who has realized what his mother has done to him and his sisters, and admitted to being afraid of being in contact with the father, for fear of her mother’s reaction and repercussions. The brother now lives with his father and has changed his last name back to his legal name, which his mother illegally changed on his driver’s license and passport.
A minor’s counsel, 4 doctors, two mediators, two family therapists, 3 previous judges, a special master, 2 experts in parental alienation, and a custody evaluator all attested this act of alienation, by the mother, to be abusive. Many involved feel the mother should be criminally punished for the abuse she has caused.
Judge Coates is at fault for allowing this criminal abuse to continue. It was beyond appalling to witness her judgment of this case. It is terrifying that she is even allowed to be a judge in family law, after witnessing these seven weeks. She is a threat to children who are suffering from alienation abuse. Judge Wendy Coates should be removed from the bench because of the extreme danger she is putting these children in.

Other

Comment #: CA42620
Rating:1.0

Comments:
she's disgusting, low life of a "judge" who needs to be brought to justice and immediate remove from her diservice of office. Arrogant, bias, comes to court with a (ruling) made just because she's lazy and don't want to be schooled. This piece of poo hates when shes caught lying or fakes she read the documents. people, please file judicial misconduct against this creep and give family court a better chance away from this witch

Other

Comment #: CA42466
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This lady is a joke on a good day. After watching her "perform" for her attorney friends, I've seen that not only is she ill-prepared, she has a bad taste in her mouth for well-educated women that can see through her charade of being knowledgeable and 'just.' She doesn't know her laws well (which is why she is in family court), but then makes such emotional judgments, I think that she forgets that she is making decisions that impacts kids. I almost pity her lack of self-confidence. If she knew what she was doing, maybe studied a bit harder, LEARNED the law, and spent less time making friends at the BAR, she might offer a good perspective into the courtroom. She has a unique background for a judge, which, generally speaking, should add value. But, she is too full of herself and thinks she is on stage. It seems her writing career failed. Her acting career failed. She failed within the fine arts and isn't setting great prescience for making any headway in law. Sadly, good looks only get so far and as a woman, she might want to think about the fact that any spark of likeability she had is gone and her once traits of beauty faded before her likability. She should invest in law tutors, find a mentor or clean up her aging-too-quickly face with some quick procedures if she wants to make it in this world.

Litigant

Comment #: CA41910
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This parasite needs to leave family court, she’s disgusting, totally biased, has a temper when she’s challenged, does not read cases, she comes in with a ruling before the hearing even begins. She does not have the best interest of any child, she could care less. What she loves is to treat people bad and use her “power” to not be brought to justice. But everyone should complain and file a judicial misconduct against her, she needs to be brought to light and immediately removed from her disservice’s of ruining kids and families. There’s so many better judges then her there, exclude this mental psycho

Other

Comment #: CA41542
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Part 1:
I was a witness to a custody hearing conducted by Judge Wendy Coates. What I witnessed was horrifying and I cannot believe Judge Coates is allowed to remain a judge in family law.
On January 11th, 2021, I witnessed Judge Coates grant an emergency custody order, which was requested by a minor’s counsel, who was representing the daughter in this case. A minor’s counsel was appointed once before by a judge previously involved in the case, the honorable Cheryl Mills. Judge Mills appointed minor's counsel to ensure the mother adheres to visitation restrictions and that her alienation crusade did not worsen. The mother did not adhere to any of that.
The emergency order was issued by Judge Wendy Coates on December 24th, 2020, when the minor's counsel learned that the minor child was hospitalized for an eating disorder, just as her older sister was 2 years beforehand. The older sister and older brother were no longer under the court’s jurisdiction, as they had both aged out. Minors counsel was contacted by CPS on 3 different occasions because the mother took the child, whose condition was deemed life threatening, out of the hospital against medical advice. On each occasion, police had to be contacted to get the mother to bring the daughter back to the hospital.
On January 11th, 2021, Judge Coates, who was new to this case and new to family law, granted full legal and physical custody to the father who previously had 50/50 custody. She also issued a no-contact order against the mother and ordered the father and minor child to attend a family reunification program in New York, to reverse the effects of parental alienation. Judge Coates ordered parties to return to court on April 30th, 2021, to ensure orders were being complied with.
What was supposed to be a short hearing on April 30th, 2021, to see if the no-contact order needed to be extended, was turned into a long cause hearing over the next 7 weeks. I was absolutely appalled by what I witnessed over those 7 weeks.
The following is what I witnessed:

Other

Comment #: CA41517
Rating:1.0

Comments:
^One more thing. Her cases should be recorded. That's the only way everyone can see how biased she is. She doesn't listen to the entire facts from both sides. Very one sided.

Other

Comment #: CA41513
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Family law - Didn't let defendant give her side of story. Barely let her speak. One sided. She let plaintiff speak a long time. Very one sided and biased.

Litigant

Comment #: CA41315
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge does not even take the time to review the facts of the case. she makes her decision before the hearing and is extremely biased and tempermental. She will punish those who dare enter her courtroom without council.

Court Staff

Comment #: CA41278
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
[Redacted by Ed.] Attorneys do everything to not have to suffer through her. She is arbitrary: makes no attempt to follow guidelines or established case law. She has no business representing the court. She is hostile and [redacted].

Other

Comment #: CA41231
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Honorable Wendy Coats serves the community with dignity and care. She takes the time to read every document given to her. Her memory is spectacular. She does not allow a child to be placed with a parent who does not have the child's best interests in mind. My children were given to me because the other party could not display stability, and had drug abuse issues. She could smile more though.

Other

Comment #: CA41213
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Wonderful and fair judge. Looks for the best interest of the child. She is level headed. Thank you honorable Wendy Coats for your fairness and for helping my family.

Other

Comment #: CA41182
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge should never be allowed in a family court room ! She is the worst judge, woman , someone in a superior role that uses her position to ruin families. She needs to be removed! I plan on making a rally to remove her! I will be on the court steps and my story will be heard! This judge just took my parental legal rights from me over a lawyer saying I make Facebook posts about what’s going on! Mind you I made one comment on someone else’s post and it didn’t say anything wrong! How do you take my rights as a mother to my own child ! This is not going to be the end of this ridiculous battle I have fought for the past year! I am going to kron4 abc 7 on your side and Wendy coats you need to be removed as a family judge!! Enough is enough you’ve wrecked to many families

Litigant

Comment #: CA40731
Rating:1.0

Comments:
dishonorable coats, i just watched a hearing while waiting for mine to begin. this judge needs serious help with her mental state, she was not prepared, tried to ruin the mother with "papers" that were not true and never been filed or signed from what I heard there, she lost control of the hearing and her head, words went somewhere else to a point where she grabbed her papers and walked off the court to just reschedule the hearing, not allowing anyone to speak nor she not one single time even looked at what both sides did file for the hearing. She needs to leave family court ASAP a judge like this is a liability to family's, and she clearly showed that today. It was embarrassing to see the show she put and got stuck when she saw the mistake she made and had no more control. because of judges like this a whole family can be broken, evaluate her and remove this woman from family court in contra costa. she's a disgrace to family court!

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA39275
Rating:1.1

Comments:
she should be REMOVED from family matters PERIOD. shes rude, does not let anyone speak. she thinks she owns the room. NO you dont, you need to leave family court for good, you do not represent any childs best interest.

Litigant

Comment #: CA37692
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Judge Wendy Coats is not a decision maker. She is in family court. Some divorces are simple, some are not. She does not look at facts, even when they stare her in the face. My soon to be ex presented tax returns almost a decade old claiming I made a lot of money. This was true for the time period she presented, but not true today. I represented myself as I cannot afford an attorney. She made an order that I had to pay her a monthly sum that is more than I make in three months. She just told the opposing counsel to write it up. I actually told her to put me in jail now because I cant pay that much. She was quiet for what seemed like an eternity, then just said "this is not a criminal court and I can't do that" I am continuing to pay my soon the be ex spouse what I can afford, but that is it. This judge obviously has no common sense. It is sad to see this. She seems to be just running a divorce mill and making judgements based on what she believes, not what is presented to her. Thank God she didn't have a say in my son's custody. He is almost 18, and Judge Haynes, in another matter, already granted full custody to me (the father, which I understand is rare). I pity anyone who goes in front of her without an attorney. I sat through several of her other cases on Zoom, and the folks with attorneys (on both sides) were treated better. She is a basically running a Kangaroo Court.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA37607
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
I had the misfortune to have the dishonorable Wendy Coats in my case , I can 100% relate to the comets below, she is bias, rude and completely ignores the ethical conduct that she is held accountable for, As long as we continue to have people like her in contra costa county , we will never see justice serve, and the contra costa family courts will continue to be and dark corrupt hell pit ...

Litigant

Comment #: CA36926
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
From the filing responses on my FL motion requests I got a very bad feeling about this judge. I immediately was concerned about moving forward with her being the decision maker potentially over my family’s livelihood. I tried refilling in hopes of getting a née Judge and everything kept getting sent to her desk. A mo th later I ended up in a zoom court room with her, and immediately I was engaged by her demeanor, temperament, and arrogance. She showed so regard to the facts and realization of what actually was occurring in my and my child’s life. She seemed bias from the start and was very demeaning and rude. She spoke to me as if I were a child or incompetent, while I hold a MSW, and I have served this country for a combined 17 years. She showed so concern of respect for my domestic violence case, and pushed the court hearing out even further, while I was already anxious and eager to have it sooner than the original date. She made a ruling on a custody matter, but refused to address my domestic violence case that was actually on calendar. I was enraged by her, and after threatening to remove my child from my home, I was uncomfortable and fearful to even speak of contest anything further. She put pressure on me to make a decision that I was not prepared to make, and now it has been filed as an order and it impacts my livelihood and family tremendously. I’ve never had such a miserable experience in a court room a day in my life. I wish there was something that could be done immediately, because I followed all the laws and filed all the paperwork to do what was expected of me. I depended on the judicial system to protect me and my child, and that very same system has failed me. My seven year old has been anxious with anxiety and fear ever since the completion of the hearing as a result of her ruling.

Other

Comment #: CA36849
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
This judge it’s not educated in how to handle domestic violence cases, she denied my request for a restraining order because I wasn’t hit hard enough, and on top of that she accused me of trying to alienate my child from my abusive ex partner, not even bother to read the police report, all I can say is that it having her as a judge was a traumatic experience, it has left my to fend for myself, I live in fear for my child and my own and I pray to god to keep us safe

Court Staff

Comment #: CA36290
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Dear Advocate,

Thank you so much for standing with victims. Corruption is a serious problem in our courts, and judges who display open contempt toward our citizen oversight deserve to be disciplined and thrown out of office!

It is heartening to see a fellow advocate working toward a common end. What we’ve accomplished in Ventura, and you in Contra Coasta, are a direct affirmation that these tactics work. We will hold corrupted judges accountable through the power f the 170.6!

Very Truly,

Ventura County’s Radiant Truth

Other

Comment #: CA36289
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I am so grateful that I followed up with the victims of the order granted by the very Unjust Wendy Coats. Below I had given the rating of a 10 stars see Comment #: CA35648 .

Unfortunately, this case is only a little different then the many we are coming across in the Coalition. You see, typically the Judges act out more when they realize we are watching them. I have seen them yell in the courts and I have seen them get so overwhelmed at the thought of being caught that they end the hearing as if the misconduct is unintentional, they just aren’t smart enough. However, what I witnessed here was an outstanding performance proving that This Unhonorable Judge knows exactly what she is doing and how wrong it is. After a spectacular performance, the malicious revenge came out in the order limiting more children from parents. Proving again how unjust and over manipulated our current court system is. My heart goes out to the mother I watched plead to see her children, that she is again kept away from. The amount of victims suffering from this one order is disheartening to say the least. When this judge comes up for reelection, the answer is No! We must cast the shadows back to the darkness and refuse to let them rule our world. The next step is to convince the people to have this judge removed. We all must stand together. To Wendy Coats, please know you have made our list, now we are watching you.
As far as those wondering if this individual is fighting for either parent or child the answer was sadly no. The goal of this judge was to rip a family apart and keep them apart. Do not fear, The people will Rise [redacted]

We Are Watching,

Nea S.
Minnesota State Representative for the
Family Court AntiCorruption Coalition

Other

Comment #: CA36225
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge put on a show for the "audience" of court watchers who were present to insure that she followed the law and treated both parties without bias. All the things she said about the daughter needing to have more frequent visits with her mother building up to the week long vacation planned for August were just a bunch of BS. In her decision following this hearing she anything but consider what was in the best interest of the child(ren). This just is an embarassment to herself, to the department she works for, and to her profession. You need to watchout for this one...she is sly and deceitful. No one is watching over judges like her to insure a fair and honest trial. Shame on you Dishonorable Wendy Coats. Change is coming because of the thousands of corrupt judges like you. I hope to get to see you receive deserve: the loss of your judgeship, the loss of your law license, and public humiliation for what you have done to the hundreds of children and families who have been victimized by you.

Court Staff

Comment #: CA35985
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge violates child’s rights and parents right. She does not care or even pay attention to what is being asked, never does she show “child’s best interest” she cares more about being disrespectful towards the right parent and right of the bat shes rude, disrespectful the entire hearing, could care less about what’s being asked in the forms, for a family judge shes no good, should be removed immediately from that area, no family hearing should deserve to be in her hands, you should at least have consideration for the child that’s having her future decided by someone so horrible as this “judge” the standards for choosing a judge needs to be better.

Litigant

Comment #: CA35780
Rating:1.0

Comments:
The judge is extremely prejudiced against Pro Se applicants. She often asks the opposing party's attorney to write Findings and Order After Hearing and then she doesn't wait until it's reviewed by a Pro Se. The judge doesn't follow California Title Five Rules. The judge is extremely vengeful and petty. If you try to oppose this judge, she will smear your character. In her statement of decision, the judge made derogatory comments about me such as "she displayed an intense emotional dysregulation" during the hearing; "she repeated herself," "the volume and the speed of her voice increased"; "she cared more about her rights rather than the children's best interest" (isn't the parents' rights in the children's best interest???)... This judge easily takes sides and scorns and reprimands Pro Se litigants for interrupting her... not even once in her statement of decision, the judge made any derogatory comments about the opposing party... and she didn't quote any laws!!! The comments below were made by court watchers who observed the judge's behavior during a public hearing... the judge was cautious and behaved appropriately while being observed by 25+ people on Zoom... but she got back at me in her written statement, when she knew that no one was "observing" her. During the hearing, the judge shut me up when I started talking about belonging to the LGBTQ+ community and about the law that states that a parent can be given custody despite sexual orientation or gender. The judge is biased towards the LGBTQ+ community, not aware of domestic violence issues in relationships and loves to retaliate and "put in their place" self-represented applicants. This judge denied my request for holidays and vacations with my own children; this is unheard of when a mother can't spend Mother's Day with her children?? I am a regular parent who loves and cares about my children but the judge's one-sided decision is robbing the children of Thanksgiving, New Year, and Mother's Day with their mother, besides other holidays. How is this fair? Be aware of this judge as if you oppose her or don't agree with her, she'll come right after you and she will spend a lot of time to find any dirt on you that she can. No justice is possible with Honorable Wendy McGuire Coats.

Other

Comment #: CA35653
Rating:10.0

Comments:
I am unsure if the fact that there were more than a couple dozen court watchers watching this hearing today made a difference, but my observation of Judge Wendy Maguire Coats was that she listened to both sides equally,for the most part applied the law fairly to both parties, and appeared to want to rule in the best of the children. We will see when the ruling comes out,if she puts her money where her mouth is, but for now, I give her a 10.

Other

Comment #: CA35648
Rating:10.0

Comments:
I am not sure if the hearing I listened to was a fluke because there were so many watchers, but it was inspiring.

I am a State Rep with the Family Court Anti-Corruption Coalition, we court watch daily, and see widespread judicial corruption. This however, was Not the case today.

Judge Wendy Coats seemed very kind collected and easily saw through the Petitioner’s desire to utilize the judicial system in order to alienate the Respondent from the children. Judge Wendy Coats held her demeanor verified information, on both sides, throughout the proceeding and did stand for the child’s best interest. It was a privilege to witness such an event.

Thank you for standing with the people.

Other

Comment #: CA33027
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Judge Wendy Coats is one of SEVERAL Contra Costa Family Court judges who is incompetent, emotional, biased, [Redacted by Ed.] and blatantly ignores the facts. This system backs their own lawyers, therapists, mediators, and evaluators and keeps CHILDREN caught in a money-extorting system without one concern for what is actually in the best interest of the child. The [redacted] Contra Costa County Family Law system needs to be brought to light because these people are DESTROYING families with their inconsistent rulings that keep families trapped in the system while they collect a paycheck and ignore the abuse they perpetuate.