"The Robing Room: CA State Judges

Hon. Benjamin F Coats	See Rating Details
Judge Superior Court
Ventura County	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 3.7 - 7 rating(s) Non-Attorney Average Rating: 1.0 - 1 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. Benjamin F Coats

Comments

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA54518
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge is so biased and prejudiced, this litigant went ahead and settled the case at great loss. Ironically, the opposing party admitted they had been lying all along, but only after the case had settled. Why this judge is on the bench, I cannot imagine because it has nothing to do with fairness or justice.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA54114
Rating:1.9

Comments:
I write this as both a criminal defense attorney and a practicing civil attorney who has handled everything from homicide and serious felony cases to civil appeals that are published.

The appointment of Ben Coats to the bench was a mistake. His demeanor can appear friendly, but he is the kind of person who can smile at you while picking your wallet and stabbing you in the back.

His prior experience is in insurance defense, including medical malpractice, which is easy when you just settle and spend other people's money. His knowledge of contract law, real estate, labor law, and criminal law is deficient, to the point that he would fail the bar exam because it is below entry level. He compensates from this with fake kindness, and his judicial ethics are questionable at best.

I've seen him handle one felony prelim, which he approached with the "just do what the deputy District Attorney" asks attitude.

Needs to go back to private practice in insurance.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA52294
Rating:8.7

Comments:
I had a tough civil jury trial before Judge Coats. He handled pretrial matters with detailed tentative rulings, presided over the trial with fairness to both sides and good temperament and rendered highly detailed rulings on post-trial motions.

Litigant

Comment #: CA48591
Rating:1.0

Comments:
The recent posted comments are very true, and I would CCP Section 170.6 exclude him from any future litigation. He lacks all of the important attributes of any good judge. He has no respect for civil rights. He is unwilling and unable to discuss the law. It's his way or the highway. He literally threatened and bullied counsel before counsel had a chance to speak. He lacks fairness, and he seems very hateful and unfair. He wasn't even willing to explain some caustic, cryptic comments he made to ensure that the parties had no idea what he meant. Huge Ego. Not a decent or fair judge.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA48585
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Shocking, really. Hard to imagine that yet another entitled male judge could be so hateful, pompous and dictatorial. He does not care what the law is. Justice means nothing to him. He's intent on sticking it to the party he hates and gloating about it. Such a petty and mean person.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA48415
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Absolutely AWFUL judge ! Definitely needs to be voted out. Ignorant and arrogant. 170.6 him immediately and VOTE HIM OFF THE BENCH !

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA47296
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Vain, pompous, mean-spirited official lacking any sense of fairness or decency. Very harmful. Unfair. Extremely Biased.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA42418
Rating:7.6

Comments:
Coats reads your briefs. Decorum and KISS goes a long way in his courtroom.

Do not interrupt him or show emotion when opposing counsel or witnesses are speaking.

Not the easiest judge to appear in front of, but I'll take a slightly cranky judge who reads my briefs over an easier going judge who doesn't read my papers.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA36118
Rating:4.6

Comments:
Judge exercises discretion to obtain the result he wants rather than follow the law