"The Robing Room: CA State Judges

Hon. Steven K. Austin	See Rating Details
Judge Superior Court
Contra Costa County	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 6.4 - 13 rating(s) Non-Attorney Average Rating: 1.0 - 2 rating(s)	Please send me alerts on this judge E-mail Address:

Add your own rating

E-Mail Address ()

* *

Confirm E-mail Address

* * *

Zip

Occupation

Add a comment only

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

Please type what you see below:

Not an even number!

What others have said about Hon. Steven K. Austin

Comments

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA37075
Rating:10.0

Comments:
A very honest, direct and fair judge. I have been an attorney for over 40 years and have handled dozens of cases in Judge Austin's Court. He encourages settlement which benefits clients with both shortened time if successful and saves legal fees for all Plaintiffs and Defendants. I have also practiced law in DC, Texas and Rome, Italy and I cannot say any of the other judges I have appeared before were better than Judge Austin.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA31969
Rating:1.0

Comments:
His arrogance and bias is equalled by his ignorance and disrespect for the law. He doesn't read the pleadings. He gets off on harming innocent litigants.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA24168
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Good temperament and even handed judge. One of the best.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA20372
Rating:9.8

Comments:
A level headed and even tempered Judge. Treats everyone in his courtroom with respect. Bends over backwards to inform pro per litigants and is fair to everyone that appears before him. A model for all judges.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA15037
Rating:1.8

Comments:
He is unprofessional and discourteous. Does not follow the law with a very volatile temper and definitely part of the good old boys club. He also loves to hand picks cases involving state farm, his former employer. I've reported him to CJP a few days ago and provided indisputable willful misconduct documented on court transcripts along with other felony charges. He openly engaged in legal extortion. Hopefully, nobody has to deal with him anymore.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA14604
Rating:9.7

Comments:
Provides a level playing field

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA13006
Rating:10.0

Comments:
An excellent judge in all respects. Industrious, fair-minded and smart.

Other

Comment #: CA6197
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I don't believe he follow the law at list on my case he was very prejudice

Litigant

Comment #: CA5645
Rating:1.0

Comments:
He is biased towards the locals. I was a litigant in a case that ultimately settled on the eve of trial. But in pre-trial conference he invited the lawyers and the defendant to his chambers for a meeting, but told me to stay and wait in the courtroom. My lawyer got into an arguement with him over this and contemplated requesting another judge. That would have put the case back another year.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA5450
Rating:3.0

Comments:
Obviously did not read our papers on a motion to compel, based on questions asked at the hearing that were extensively briefed/answered. Cut off every statement we attempted to make at oral argument and made a decision so blatantly contrary to precedent that it was truly mind-boggling). 170.6 him every time if you are plaintiff-side.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA4895
Rating:2.8

Comments:
He will go out of his way not to make tough decisions on matters of law. He continuously pushes the parties to mediate. Don't bother filing an MSJ, because he will find a way to punt and not rule on the issues. He doesn't work very hard on deciding legal issues. He directs most of his efforts towards encourage the parties to settle. He prefers local attorneys -- you will be hometowned if you are not from the Bay Area. He needs to focus on being a judge and not a mediator from the bench. I will paper him in the future.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA3763
Rating:8.1

Comments:
Amazing patience, considering how many crazy pro pers he deals with all the time.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA3095
Rating:2.8

Comments:
Not the worst judge out there, but that's not saying much

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA2810
Rating:6.6

Comments:
Smart, but doesn't like to work hard.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA586
Rating:7.8

Comments:
Generally enjoyed working on cases in his department. Never got one out to trial