"The Robing Room: CA State Judges

Hon. Maria E Evangelista	See Rating Details
Judge Superior Court
San Francisco County	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 2.5 - 11 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. Maria E Evangelista

Comments

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA54916
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This woman is a disgraceto the legal profession. She is intimidated when people quote case law to her. She mispronounces every one’s name but her own. She is a loose cannon that should be disbarred.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA53945
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Evangelista earned her reputation in family court, [Redacted by Ed.] In civil court, she is biased temperamental and the same person she was in family court. She does not see both sides and biases towards attorneys she knows.

[Redacted by Ed.] she does not represent my culture.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA52889
Rating:1.0

Comments:
The opinions in this blog are well founded. Evangelista is rude, snide, condescending, ignorant of the law and doesn’t read the pleadings. A loose cannon of epic proportion. A terrible justice who should be jettisoned from office.

Litigant

Comment #: CA46967
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Unfortunately, everything I see written is true. In just over one year, she repeatedly violated CA Family Codes she is obligated to know by virtue of her position, then doubled down when proven wrong. Picks a side (smiling, wealthy men), sticks to it, defying judicial procedure, logic, facts established before the court, civil rights, and due process. Does not read pleadings, scolds parties when she is ignorant of facts, issues unfounded mental health diagnoses herself (!) against mother, then orders mother into specialized mental health beyond financial means, for diagnoses they do not have, merely at request of father, disregards proof of abuse, threatens to change custody based on “non-compliance with court order”- except party had filed proof of compliance 12 days prior. Mis-uses update hearings to recklessly and arbitrarily issue orders not supported or requested, issued 26 point tentative ruling prejudicial against mother in update hearing, in opposition to facts established before court, then disregards submitted proof 26 points are false, and rules against mother anyway. Does not hold father to any scrutiny. My teenage daughter attempted to file DVRO with help from non-profit, a right she has under CA law, except when clerks in 2 courts discovered her name, and her father’s name, clerks made and received calls we were made to believe came from Evangelista or her representative, and clerks refused to accept my daughter’s paperwork- but “opened a case”, assigning a case number, thereby creating a legal Catch-22, where my daughter couldn’t get protection because clerks wouldn’t accept her paperwork (we were made to believe at behest of Evangelista, and even received an unsigned letter stating rejection of paperwork “from the judge”, but unsigned; but then my daughter couldn’t file DVRO in JV court or Family Court again, because a “case was open” in Family Court. Next hearing, 2 wks later, Evangelista then disregarded declaration from prominent DV expert and PhD with extensive legal credibility, and valid assessments, who put in writing she feared for my life, and that of my daughters, due to credible DV. Evangelista repeatedly denied 2030 fees to mother to be able to obtain any legal representation, despite tens of millions in financial disparity between parties. Ignorance of the law is no excuse, not even for judges, but this is something far worse. Run.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA46788
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge is terrible I filed my case in sf the respond and requested to have case moved to another county and she granted she is a liar she does not do what she say she will do I honestly don’t think that she even reads the evidence she is pro men smiling and thanking them for coming to court she is a hot mess she needs to removed she has no idea what she is doing

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA46566
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Temperamental, constantly confused and unorganized. Forgets what she orders and to whom. I always warn my clients when she is assigned as their judge.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA46334
Rating:9.0

Comments:
I think Judge Evangelista is a very fair and hardworking Judge. I saw her work hard to listen to both sides, and she was very deliberate in her decision-making.

Court Staff

Comment #: CA45422
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
I see Evangelista rule against DV victims, mothers, women in general, almost every day. Tired of it.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA43107
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Only sides with men. Watch out, mamas.

Court Staff

Comment #: CA43106
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Seeing Evangelista day in and day out making unfair rulings towards parents really grinds my gears. She’s completely burnt out already. Can’t wait to switch departments.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA42936
Rating:1.0

Comments:
She is very short fused she is a liar she will order something then when you call her out on she will chew you out saying she didn’t say that but you get the order and it’s clear she said it lacks common sense I don’t know how she got elected she sides with almost all the men in her cases she is biased she needs to get off that bench dealing with people children I’m sure she doesn’t read all of evidence given to her just a idiot all around the board

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA42572
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Short fused, doesn't allow people talk, you can tell she is not the one writing her tentative rulings in Family Court as during the hearing she is clueless to the facts of the case and her own tentative ruling published the day before. Gets really rude, makes decisions not based on laws, makes orders without either party requesting, when asked for clarifications goes in the backroom for a break and comes back close to the end of the hearing and makes rush decisions. Often picks on people and stick to one side.

Litigant

Comment #: CA42011
Rating:1.0

Comments:
rude, condescending. All over the place, explaining admin processes on court time (with my lawyer present) apparently stole her husband (and his name). What do I know about family law? Keep kicking the can down the road and all parents in the system will be experts, get your act together. I don't know who is worse now that we have Flores back, what happened to Darwin? California has no shortage of judges, Wiley - why? Flores was moved for pro-dad rulings, so parents are back on court watch and what we uncover about Evangelista is almost as bad.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA41872
Rating:1.1

Comments:
_I cannot believe the State of California will appoint this idiot! She has no idea how to examine evidence and use facts! My advice.....Exchange judge if you see her on your case! I wished the Commissioner would pull her off the bench, because she keeps hurting people!

Other

Comment #: CA40831
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Horrible Judge, 170.6 this Judge, a complete idiot, does not follow the law, will terminate parental rights at ex parte hearings, plays favorites, if your pro per you will lose before you open your mouth. This one needs to disbarred and reported to the CJP.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA37023
Rating:9.5

Comments:
New judge to SF Family law. Had no Family Law experience prior to taking over 403. She is really trying but she has only been at 403 for 7-8 months but seem to be getting burned out already. Yeah, Family Law is stressful for everyone. SF court does not follow state law re Family Judge must have 2 years of experience in Family Law prior to hearing family law cases. there have been like 20 judges in and out of 403 over the last 10 years.