"The Robing Room: CA State Judges

Hon. John M. Gallagher	See Rating Details
Judge Superior Court
Santa Cruz County	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 4.0 - 10 rating(s) Non-Attorney Average Rating: 3.0 - 4 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. John M. Gallagher

Comments

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA48377
Rating:1.0

Comments:
` He couldn't handle a 10-11 hour workday, so he's out. Thank god this bench warmer is gone.
https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/2022/09/19/santa-cruz-superior-court-judge-resigns-over-long-workdays/

Other

Comment #: CA41173
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I (Janice Rose) am a senior and I live in a senior mobile home park. A neighbor, Lyn Gainey took out a restraining order against my son Eric Ichtertz because she does not like me or my dogs. Her restraining order is all lies. In it the order says he is not allowed to come within 100 yards of her. That means he cannot come and visit me or help me up. I am older and I have some health issues and I need my son's help. We had a hearing with John Gallagher the judge, to modify the restraining order so he would remain 7 feet from her but he can visit me and help me out. John Gallagher only listened to Lyn Gainey's side of the story which was all lies. He did not let us speak. When we tried to speak he said that we were out of order and that he can imagine how we must act out of order in my senior mobile home park. My son had also submitted letters from my other neighbors stating my son is not a problem and he had written a long letter stating the circumstances and the judge NEVER read out letters. He did not give us a chance to counter Lyn Gainey's lies and give our version. We are requesting a new hearing with an impartial judge that will listen to our side of events. We are requesting a new hearing ASAP. I have some surgeries coming up and I need the help of my son.
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Litigant

Comment #: CA41158
Rating:2.0

Comments:
He is terrible. Didn’t read anything about the case and was completely unprepared. He’s as bad as all the other judges. Just pathetic.

Litigant

Comment #: CA39164
Rating:10.0

Comments:
I found him to be fair, even handed, tolerant. He took the time to listen to both sides of the story.

Litigant

Comment #: CA38134
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Original post by somebody: "This bench warmer hopefully will not be warming the bench for much longer as his term ends in 2023. Unfortunately, Santa Cruz has a list of mediocre judges." The response: "The judges, in accomplishment by State Governors, built up the way to stay on the bench as long as they want to. In 2020, 6 judges had their terms ended and were for reelection and none of them got on the ballot for reelection. I was explained by Election Department that some 20 attorneys endorsed all, 6 of them, for another term. Satanic court under Alex Calvo continued run by criminals and no one attorney stands up against total Violations of Oath to Office, because attorneys are crooked too. They are all so dangerous that even do not deserve to be locked in jail, but hanged on the public stage for all to see what has to be done for deep corruption and inhuman torture of their Orders."

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA33829
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This bench warmer hopefully will not be warming the bench for much longer as his term ends in 2023. Unfortunately, Santa Cruz has a list of mediocre judges.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA32219
Rating:6.3

Comments:
Can be a bit sensitive at times (has been known to break down in tears). Do not let him sit on a landlord tenant case if you are the landlord since you will lose. Good solid judge who can occasionally be a star. It would be a great help if he was a little less prickly.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA24215
Rating:1.1

Comments:
I observed him come unprepared and clearly biased at the same time. He seemed to feel there was no need to follow law or what we've been led to believe is supposed to happen in court.

Litigant

Comment #: CA23495
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Ignores the law. Violates the US and CA State Constructions and his oath to both. Is recognized as a Domestic Terrorist, Child Trafficker and has repeatedly committed Treason. Abuses his power and authority to the detriment of innocent People. Removal from bench and bar recommended and required.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA13712
Rating:9.3

Comments:
While I have seen Judge Gallagher get a bit short, it has always been for a good reason i.e., the lawyer is not prepared or otherwise is screwing up. If you're prepared and polite you will have zero problems and enjoy his even handed manner. He understands the law and applies the law, even if he doesn't completely agree with the law.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA12743
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Personally disagreeable - sanctimonious. Professionally mediocre - demonstrates a shallow understanding of law and issues.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA12677
Rating:1.0

Comments:
A short fuse. 170.6 at all costs.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA12352
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Bad tempter. Berates attorneys for no apparent reason. Should be relegated to small claims.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA8602
Rating:9.0

Comments:
A truly excellent judge in Santa Cruz amongst a litany of mediocre judges.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA8407
Rating:9.4

Comments:
A fair, evenhanded judge.