"The Robing Room: CA State Judges

Hon. Eddie C. Sturgeon	See Rating Details
Judge Superior Court
San Diego County	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 7.6 - 11 rating(s) Non-Attorney Average Rating: 5.0 - 4 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. Eddie C. Sturgeon

Comments

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA34024
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
I've never been that impressed with his legal acumen. He got one wrong today that was not even a close call. It wasn't my case, so I was just listening, but I could tell that he was totally wrong. The statute clearly required him to rule a certain way "shall make this order..." and he claimed he had discretion. No. It was a discovery motion on RFA's. If the Judge pulled out his TRG on Civ Pro Before Trial it is right there, plain as the nose on his face. That is pretty scary to hear a judge not even know a basic legal truth about the discovery statutes.

Litigant

Comment #: CA31981
Rating:10.0

Comments:
He saw at a hearing that the lawsuit was coming from an emotional place (my ex was suing me for my dog), and moved the trial date up to speed the process along while giving both sides time to prepare, noting that we were both young and that everyone needed to move on.

It was an emotional case, but he was solely interested in the facts of ownership, seemed very professional the whole time. He was very focused; I honestly could not tell until the decision was given which side he was leaning towards.

Before he gave his decision, he told us we both needed to “accept the decision he made and move on after today,” and lectured us for a second about how we had great counsel, and whatever happened was not our attorney’s faults, who won and who lost was HIS final decision after hearing both sides, emphasizing that both sides had great counsel, and if we were upset with the decision, HE was the person we needed to be upset with.

This was really important and a relief for me to hear him say to us (even before I knew who actually won), because my ex was really using the lawsuit as a way to continue harassing me legally after our breakup, and I was really scared that he was going to continue harassing me after the fact, or try to go after me in a different way.

I’d never been to court before that day, but he seemed like a very professional judge.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA27514
Rating:3.6

Comments:
Pros: Judge Sturgeon is very kind and jovial (as others have said). He's someone you'd probably want to hang out with outside of Court because he seems like a fun, nice guy.

Cons:
-Judge Sturgeon is far too nice, and as a result, does not know how to effectively manage a case. He lets parties get away with patterns of abuse that go on for far too long because Sturgeon is one of the worst judges I have seen at managing a case. Behaviors that judges like Judge Taylor would never allow continue on in Judge Sturgeon's courtroom without so much as a scolding or warning. I'd much rather by assigned to Judge Taylor and know that the case will be managed well. I plan to file a peremptory challenge as to Sturgeon everytime going forward.
-Judge Sturgeon also does not read moving papers and usually does not know what's happening in a case before him even if it's been before him for well over a year. This is part of why he fails to effectively manage cases--because he doesn't remember what's happening, and as a result, isn't in a position to remember, much less manage, bad behavior from counsel.
-Judge Sturgeon, in addition to often getting the facts of his cases wrong, frequently misapplies the law or refuses to apply applicable law. In sum, he appears to not know what the law is, which is scary coming from a judge.

Other

Comment #: CA12893
Rating:1.0

Comments:
As a child this judge sealed my custody documentation between my parents to protect my interested. I tried contacting Judge Sturgeon to let him know that my sealed file is being used without my consent and I got nothing but his secretary. I see no point of paying these lawyers or judges anything when they can't even uphold there own law.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA10713
Rating:4.1

Comments:
Doesn't read motions. Relies exclusively on clerk. Very patient. Is too involved in trial. Works hard, but not that intelligent.

Sustains too many objections and the problem with that is it encourages more of the same.

Terrible in pre-trial matters. I can't emphasize this enough. Waits until midway through the trial to address anything. Very forgetful, but takes notes. Doesn't rule on all MILs and let's parties file as many as they can, no matter how frivolous they may be.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA9867
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Great judge. Knows the rules of evidence. Very jovial but can and will make the tough decisions. I loved being in trial in front of this judge. A real pleasure.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA8323
Rating:10.0

Comments:
In many years of appearing before Judge Sturgeon, I can only recall once that I disagreed with his ruling (even though, lord knows, that was not the only time he ruled against me). Judge Sturgeon is smart, kind, professional and courteous to all who appear in front of him. Starting off a morning of court appearances in his department makes my day. Have I said enough or should I go on? Bottom line: If you draw Judge Sturgeon on your case, consider yourself blessed. He will always strive to make the right ruling and to be fair.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA7078
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Smart, hard working, hands on, pleasant demeanor, staff very friendly and helpful. A pleasure to be in his Courtroom

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA6276
Rating:3.1

Comments:
Judge Sturgeon is extremely unintelligent and overreaches. He exercises jurisdiction where he has none and does not care.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA5928
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Probably the best judge in San Diego County.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA5425
Rating:9.8

Comments:
Judge Sturgeon is very patient, has an excellent understanding of the law, is very polite to parties and to counsel. He works hard, is prompt and decisive on his rulings, and tries to achieve an equitable result whenever possible. I have tried several cases in his department, have won some and lost some, but have always been satisfied that my client had a fair trial.

Litigant

Comment #: CA4798
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
This judge leaned completely towards the plaintiff's side. He spent most of the trial browsing the Internet rather than listening to testimony. He constantly allowed references to issues already squelched through in limine motions. He was reluctant to make difficult legal decisions, instead letting the jury decide. He accepted new evidence after the trial was over, and changed the jury verdict.

Other

Comment #: CA4325
Rating:10.0

Comments:
I was very fortunate to have Judge Eddie C. Sturgeon as my judge. Although he sent me to jail 3 times, (first guy in 14 years to go to jail from civil court), he is very affirmative, honest, trustworthy and very intelligent. I hold him in the highest regard. As you know, he was awarded the Hon. Bernie Whitkin Award. They don't give such a prestigious award to just anybody. Judge Sturgeon has earned the right to have the word "honorable" in front of his name, because he does in fact have honor.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA4065
Rating:4.1

Comments:
Judge Sturgeon is, if anything, simply lazy. He rarely reads motions or briefs, doesn't bother with the elements of a claim, or sometimes with evidence. In three matters over two years he has expressed no interest in making a correct decision, only in getting a case off his docket.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA3861
Rating:9.4

Comments:
Fair, friendly, respectful to all parties. Not afraid to make a decision. Great judge.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA3061
Rating:9.4

Comments:
I have enormous respect for Judge Sturgeon. He has had the independent civil calendar for the past ten years or so in El Cajon. He consistently appears to be fair and unbiased. He is always prepared and usually has an accurate memory of the matters that have been before him. I would not hesitate in bringing a client's matter before him.

Other

Comment #: CA1545
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I filed a complaint on my home for wrongful attempt to repocess my home.
Demurrer was sustained without leave to amend. It is now in for reconsideration July 8th. If reconsideration is denied I will apeal. This judge didn't even give me a chance to speak.