"The Robing Room: CA State Judges

Hon. Michael L. Stern	See Rating Details
Judge Superior Court
Los Angeles County	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 4.0 - 32 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. Michael L. Stern

Comments

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA51468
Rating:2.0

Comments:
Lacks judicial temperament. Bizarre "findings" and language in statement of decision and judgment suggests possible onset of dementia.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA43016
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Stern is lazy. He sucks up his paycheck but does not want to do the work. He is motivated by trying to dump cases, regardless of the law or facts. He often ignores binding precedent, and if he does not like you facts he sustains objections that no judge would sustain. LOSER!!!!

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA35069
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Michael Stern is the best pre-trial and trial judge I have ever had the pleasure of appearing before. His evidentiary rulings are prompt and exacting. Judge Stern lets attorneys put on their case. His temperament is perfect, alert, occasionally bemused, and always respectful of attorneys, parties and witnesses. His dead-pan demeanor is impossible to read. He should offer a master course in judging. I wish there were more like him.

Litigant

Comment #: CA31770
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
This fool needs yobe removed from the bench and so does his adiposed ridden clerk. Rude as hell, both. As a Pro Se, I can surely attest that the LASC system
is a corrupt syndicate. Money extortion body that sides with White
Supremacy. The system uses Uncle Toms and Charlie Chans as a cover to hide their ideology of suppression. They will engage in Fraud to strip your case snd make you lose.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA28319
Rating:9.6

Comments:
I would take Judge Stern over just about any judge at Stanley Mosk Courthouse. I've both litigated and tried cases before him. I've won and I've lost. I agree with comment CA24039, he's the real deal, a very smart, very experienced judge. Without a doubt if you put your case in his courtroom he will decide it.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA24039
Rating:8.8

Comments:
Real smart and the best education.
He still has a moral compass, will not put up with bad lawyers or waste of his time. Better be prepared and defer to role as a decider of disputed matters. He will earn your respect.

Other

Comment #: CA14421
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
I worked with him for several years. He is an abusive , demeaning , horrible person. And as a judge? the taxpayers deserve a competent sane person in his place. He should be removed from the bench.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA13210
Rating:2.0

Comments:
I can not even believe a judge like this exists. Utterly biased and prejudiced either against me and my client (two women) or in favor of opposing counsel and his client (two Latino males). I am not being paranoid but I cannot see any other explanation unless the explanation for his decision is worse than that. I have been doing civil litigation for 31 years and I have never encountered anything like it. This judge ordered my client to give back to the plaintiff the money we had collected for child support arrearages. Once we filed a notice of appeal the department destroyed the exhibits. The court of appeal reversed the judgment and ordered the lower court to enter a judgment for my client. If I had not represented the defendant on a pro bono basis, she would owe the plaintiff over $70,000.0o courtesy of judge Stern and his unconscionable
decision.

Litigant

Comment #: CA11577
Rating:1.0

Comments:
i will soon file in federal court charges of "extrinsic fraud" and "fraud upon the court" on this guy. a complete disgrace to justice, and his courtroom is clearly an abundance of racism. this guy is a minority himself, yet believes otherwise.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA11409
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Should be removed from the bench. Assaultive, rude, arrogant, and fully hates women and minorities and doesn't seem to care who knows it. Treats female attorneys like misbehaving children, even when legally they are correct. Ignores the law, just asserts himself above others. I am seriously considering reporting him to the state bar for misuse of his position and failure to even remotely apply law in his decisions. His ego overrides any rationality. Maybe at one point he was a good judge, but either the position or his age has caused him to be a truly despicable person. Strike every time.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA10075
Rating:1.0

Comments:
the worst damn judge at the trial level. if you go up against a public entity, this fool will side with the entity all the way. talks about his Stanford law degree 10X a day, but this guy can't even add and lacks mathematical reasoning. is old skool. needs to be kicked out of office. this fool wants to go to the appellate level. again, is conservative, lacks mathematical reasoning, and will side with entities. 170 as soon as possible.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA9708
Rating:9.8

Comments:
I am a veteran of over thirty jury trials and truly admire the dedication and skill of this great judge. Armed with a wry wit and the ability to teach with the humorous invective, which can be misinterpreted, Judge Stern not only controls the courtroom like no other, he makes all who appear before him better lawyers. I am a better trial lawyer as a result of trying a case before him and am deeply appreciative of his unique talent.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA9644
Rating:2.0

Comments:
Awful judge. Don't be surprised if you find out he has not read your motion or opposition. Thinks highly of himself and belittles others. Does not know the law even when you present it on a silver plate. Makes weird rulings. No wonder so many people dislike him.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA7697
Rating:9.3

Comments:
I have tried four cases before him. Each and every time he is a stickler for the rules, and does not suffer fools. He is not afraid to make a ruling, and he is exceptional when it comes to moving the case. He does not waste time. Probably my favorite judge ever, but he is extremely unforgiving about any mistake at all.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA6665
Rating:1.0

Comments:
pro defendant, conversative, pompous a--, dry humor, demeaning to lawyers, especially to women and minorities.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA6459
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
had a trial,
eliminated all of my exhibits,
did not use a my verdict form, but used the opponents,
is funny and likeable, but has this rude woman as his clerk,
going against a public entity, a lot of political bullshit in favor of the entity, will appeal, but it was overall a fun experience,

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA6410
Rating:2.1

Comments:
Does not listen even when he is clearly wrong on the law. He believes he is always right even when case law is cited that provides that he is wrong. Does not even allow you to be heard.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA6112
Rating:2.3

Comments:
He has to be the smartest person in the room and will not follow the law. Despite what the law says, he follows "Stern's law". This is a problem. People need to get out and vote and use more discretion at the polls in which judges are elected.

Other

Comment #: CA5760
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Subtracting completely the ex election fraud presdient of 2000 2004 USA from Judge Michael Stern in department 62 Los Angeles, Ca. closing.doc by 88 Ronald L. Vaught, Superior court September 2014.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA5518
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Substantial comments are consistent in revealing that this judge "Fails to Follow" the "Courtroom Rules." Such "Consistent Statements" being made significantly raise a question to the violation of "Due Process" from the other side i.e., "Plaintiff." This judge "Fails to Consider the Evidence; Abuses His Power and Authority" and should be "Removed From the Bench." "He is a Defense Lawyer" and rules based on his own personal "Biases and Opinions" rather than the law. His actions are re portable to the State Bar of California.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA5517
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Substantial comments are consistent in revealing that this judge "Fails to Follow" the "Courtroom Rules." Such "Consistent Statements" being made significantly raise a question to the violation of "Due Process" from the other side i.e., "Plaintiff." This judge "Fails to Consider the Evidence; Abuses His Power and Authority" and should be "Removed From the Bench." "He is a Defense Lawyer" and rules based on his own personal "Biases and Opinions" rather than the law. His actions are re portable to the State Bar of California.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA5514
Rating:1.0

Civil Litigation - Govt.

Comment #: CA5512
Rating:1.0

Comments:
"Extremely easy to falsify evidence and fabricate statements" while the plaintiffs may present extraordinary evidence. The commissioner will NOT consider the evidence, let alone glance at it, while the respondents will have "No Evidence" whatsoever to present. He does NOT know or consider the law and simply should be "Disbarred."

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA4847
Rating:9.9

Comments:
He is an excellent judge. In all his years on the bench, he has been known as the judge who never enforces the rules if he likes you. Judge Stern is the best -- all bark, and a toothless bite!

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA3691
Rating:9.2

Comments:
Stern has a great sense of humor, but requires counsel to follow the rules.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA3271
Rating:4.7

Comments:
Really one of the rudest judgest I've come across. Loves talking down to attorney's.

I tried a civil case in his courtroom and he loves making attorneys feel stupid, which to his credit he does evenly to both parties. but i got the vibe that he more defense oriented.

More importantly, he is ALWAYS right. even when hes wrong hes right! And dont bother challenging him or he will flip out. the only thing to do is go with it...which can be a hard pill to swallow.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA2999
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Can't stand judges like this. Pompous and won't admit to being wrong. I was working on a case that was removed to federal court from Judge Stern's docket, and he set an OSC re sanctions for failure to show up to a "post removal status hearing," whatever that is. When the case is removed, you lose jurisdiction. It's not that hard to understand.

What bothered me most about the whole situation was not that he set the OSC, but that he failed to set an OSC for all the other parties that failed to not only show up at his "post removal status hearing," (again, whatever that is), but also failed to show up to the OSC itself. We had to get lectured about our failure to show up to a hearing he didn't have the authority/jurisdiction to schedule, and Judge Stern failed to even acknowledge that the other parties didn't even bother to show up to the OSC.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA2873
Rating:3.0

Comments:
Judge Stern is the worst. I tried a bench case to him. Plaintiff attorney didn't answer discovery, he refused to award sanctions, saying it was a cost of doing business. Plaintiff attorney missed the FSC, he continued the trial. Once trial happened, he issued an award that had nothing to do with what we discussed. He made huge legal errors and did not even bother to read the evidence he received or the case law he cited for his insane decision. He tried to exclude evidence that the parties had stipulated to admit. He was rude and condescending. never again.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA2440
Rating:3.2

Comments:
Avoid this judge at all costs, if you represent the defense. He provides very vague and ambiguous basis for his rulings. Even if you point out the opposition has NO EVIDENCE to support a proposition, he refuses to change his ruling. RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN FROM THIS "Judge."

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA2342
Rating:2.0

Comments:
While he is a smart judge he is pedantic to the point that he is totally infelixable. He will not rule on motions in limine if the declaration does not comply in every respect with the rule. He is unfriendly, terse, and unapproachable. If he likes your case he will give you the edge on close calls, and leans towards the plaintiff. However, he ruined my evenings with a daily complaint about the contents of the verdict form, yet used the very first one with the jury. He's hard to figure.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA2299
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Absolutely awful; rude; dismissive; erroneous rulings; misses the point; started to think he was being paid off by the other side.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA2182
Rating:4.5

Comments:
I tried a civil personal injury case before Judge Stern. He is difficult, at best. He is a smart guy but made an obviously wrong ruling in my favor which I advised him was wrong. He said that the plaintiff could appeal.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA1652
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I had a suit against the city. I don't know what happened, but Stern did not want to touch this case. My thoughts are that politics were more important to him than the actual law.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA1055
Rating:4.1

Comments:
I tried a bench trial before this judge. He sat expressionless throughout the trial, stared blankly into space, and did not take a single note. Then, when the decided the case, it was like he was deciding a different case than was tried before him. His decision was without comment on the claims and defenses, just a result.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA1050
Rating:9.8

Comments:
One of the best, if not the best, trial judges I have been in front of. While many Judges like to pretend they know the rules of evidence and your case then you do, Judge Stern actually does. In my experience, he is not biased and is quite respectful to all sides.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA449
Rating:8.5

Comments:
He tried many cases as a lawyer and conducts a lot of trials in his department too. He's fair and knows the law better than most judges and attorneys out there. He's not afraid to let you know it too.