"The Robing Room: CA State Judges

Hon. Melvin D. Sandvig	See Rating Details
Judge Superior Court
Los Angeles County	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 2.1 - 10 rating(s) Non-Attorney Average Rating: 5.0 - 2 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. Melvin D. Sandvig

Comments

Civil Litigation - Govt.

Comment #: CA51421
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This guy seem to mix criminal cases with civil so who is really behind the curtain?

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA48986
Rating:1.7

Comments:
In a breach of contract matter, Judge sided with corrupt Homeowners Association, usurped by unelected group which acted without a mandate, in ongoing violation of governing documents, which they claimed in their sham complaint that I violated by exercising free speech right protected by case law, to criticize the mismanagement at the HOA. Judge did not care that number of case law on point and the manager’s testimony that Rules were never proposed and adopted meant I should prevail. In violation of due process and equal treatment, he figured out during motion for summary judgment that they cannot prove the case, and all they will do is try to argue a decided issue, bared by doctrine of issue preclusion, which I raised in MSJ, so at trial he gave Corporation a day and a half (12hr) to re-litigate decided issue and then he gave me less then 10min to defend myself. Literary. I couldn’t even deliver an opening statement when he told me: "You may step down now". In a flagrant and harmful disregard for equal treatment and due process he closed the case without letting me testify, present my evidence and call witnesses. He also commented that I cannot testify by narration, which is all a part of the transcript and court record. Judge Sandvig unjustly hurt me and he hurt others. Number of serious complaints here shows that LA County Superior Court needs to do a WAY BETTER job curtailing what is more than just a ‘eyebrow raising’ conduct.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA48837
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Judge tossed my elder abuse case despite having multiple experts, on the most technical of technicalities, which was fixed with corrected documents before the hearing. Specifically, the declarations swore under penalty of perjury but left out California, and, as stated that was corrected. But the judge granted summary judgment and then at the hearing it turns out he's buddy-buddy with all the defense lawyers and, to boot, mentioned on the record of another case that he already had a vacationed planned for the week my trial was scheduled. Makes me wonder why he really did what he did. I have rarely appeared before a jurist who seemed to be more unfair or have less integrity.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA48719
Rating:1.5

Comments:
To the poster who allegedly could not find Birke's BAR #, (1) you have no business being a lawyer, (2) Burke alertign public is what we call checks and balances in democracy. Now, Google "Appeals court says no sanctions for Beverly Hills lawyer who sued Lowe's for not helping arrest unmasked man in store in 2020". Look at the LASC# B314138 - JOHN BIRKE, Plaintiff and Appellant, v. LOWE'S HOME CENTERS, LLC, et al., Defendants and Respondents. Burke's fault was to sue LOWES who hired big firm and he was in ProPer. In Sandvig's Court this case was decided at firt glance at the first pleading's headings. Pro Per vs. Big Corporation - before Sandvig means all you can do is file peremptory challenge.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA48718
Rating:1.6

Comments:
Fully concur with all characterization previously posted, in particular that Judge Sandvig doesn't read papers or comprehend issues. (How he passed the bar is enigma). Very early in the case he'll pick the winner (in his darkened courtroom that looks like movie theater) and if he doesn't like you you would lose -- big time -- no matter what the fact and law is. He is biased in favor of large firms or corporate litigants and if you appear in ProPer before Sandvig you would lose - even if you are a lawyer! John S. Birke learned the hard way after Jud. Sandvig cited him over $100,000, which appellate court then reversed. (The last post below appears to be Sandvig's post). Has little act as activist for corporate interests. If there is a quality oversight in this County and State he would have been removed form the bench long time ago.

Other

Comment #: CA48323
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
48321

What is your state bar #, 'John S. Birke', "civil litigator for 33 years?" Because it failed to come up in attorney search, BECAUSE the way you disparaged this judge, and 'gave your name', wanted to check to see if your post was legit. And, after 33 years of civil litigation, did you just find this out about this judge, because another post with your name has redactions; and one would think that you should know better and not write vile , or inflammatory posts.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA48321
Rating:1.1

Comments:
My name is John S. Birke.I've been a civil litigator for 33 years. Melvin Sandvig likely has absolute immunity from civil right claims, otherwise I'd sue him. Since I can't, I'll say this -- [redacted by Ed.] All those things the far right says about Pres. Biden are true of Melvin Sandvig. - He was never qualified for any bench, went to a [Redacted] was an LAPD cop when it was the most racist, criminal force in the nation, and was appointed by the vile. [Redacted] He was appointed by fellow racist reactionary Pete Wilson and confirmed when the Repugs had the state Senate. I'd happily give up my Bar card to testify against him under penalty of perjury, and have the chance to examine him under oath.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA47180
Rating:1.3

Comments:
[Redacted by Ed.] doesn't read papers or comprehend issues. No regard for the law -- he's there to protect and be an activist for corporate interests and to implement his far right agenda. [Redacted] and ingratiated himself to racist Gov. Pete Wilson after years with the most racist police dept. in the country. Unfortunately, the Commission on Judicial Performance won't take any action, because its mission is to protect judges first and foremost. A real judicial oversight agency would have removed him from the bench 20 years ago. John S. Birke, civil litigation attorney for 33 years.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA35792
Rating:1.9

Comments:
This judge went to one of the worst law schools in the country, a school that went defunct 10 years ago. He is a former LAPD officer and pal of white supremacist, racist, xenophobic former governor Pete Wilson, who appointed him to the bench despite the fact he was utterly unqualified. He has almost no intellectual acuity to speak of. He never asks a question of an attorney, never says anything in a ruling that didn't come straight from the papers of the side for which he's ruling, and is all but incoherent on the bench. He never shows up less than 20 minutes late and is never on the bench for more than 15 minutes before he retries to chambers. He is viciously partisan and biased. Once he decides he doesn't like you, you might as well start preparing your appeal, because he will never eve read, let alone consider, any contention you make or read any case you cite. An absolute disgrace to the judiciary.

Other

Comment #: CA32290
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
This judge , was so tired I could barely hear his voice , he didn’t even hear my attorneys argument , they muted her , he was so unprofessional and rude , he dismissed my case saying I filed a late case , I was butchered by the surgeon I’m left with permanent scars, he acted so unfair and please stay away from this courthouse !!!

Prosecutor

Comment #: CA14779
Rating:9.0

Comments:
Great Judge overall very honorable we need more judges like him in the judicial court system.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA14643
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Judge put a lis pendants on my house with out allowing me a opportunity to show the plaintiff is only trying to steal my home and even tried to refinance my house with a fake deed with court putting my case iff over a year and laughed at my plea for opportunity to defend myself and the plaintiff attorney get special treatment and I get disrespectful treatment and clerk is assisting the plaintiff attorney they know each other and the favors to them is scary. It's like the mob extremely racist and safe house for thieves to strong arm victims who can afford to pay a lawyer

Litigant

Comment #: CA14640
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
This judge and his clerk are extremely racist and have a hate for pro per defendants. The clerk would not let me file any motion in my defense of a real estate broker attempt to take my house with forged paperwork and not removing the lis pendants filed on my house so I can't take money out to defend this ovbious fake lawsuit And judge allowed the plaintiff to attwmt a refinance of my house with a fake deed and was in escrow behind my back and clerk won't let me put anything about it on record. It's been over a year and the judge laughed while granted another 60 day continue so the tax sale date will come before I can get my case heard. It's a big joke about my suffering and hardship on my kids I am in disbelief that this behavior is normal for this div 47 hell hole

Litigant

Comment #: CA8763
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Judge Sandvig apparently forgot some jurisdiction and venue laws. Was forced to transfer case after enough time had lapsed to where defendants could not ask for transfer, but Sandvig granted their motion anyway. His lack of jurisprudence cost me money and I hope never to have him assigned to any of my cases again.

Court Staff

Comment #: CA4410
Rating:10.0

Comments:
The best judge I have ever worked for. Down-to-earth, considerate, accommodating and just an amazing person overall.