"The Robing Room: WA State Judges

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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)

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What others have said about Hon. Nicole Gaines Phelps

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Comment #: WA2367
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Judge Gaines Phelps is one of the best judges I have had the pleasure of having a case before. Most civil matters have an assigned judge but rarely does the court get involved in the dispute.

I had a case before Judge Gaines Phelps that was particularly heated, with the court having to consider multiple motions with opposing counsel becoming ever more rancorous as the matter wore on. She managed to set aside the clear disdain one of the attorneys exhibited and focused solely on application of the law to the facts of the case.

What stood out for me was her openness to being incorrect. During one hearing, she commented that an assertion made by my side was likely incorrect. Later, during a hearing on a motion explicitly relating to the issue, she reviewed and researched the case law provided, ultimately entering an order adopting our position. She exhibited a high level of thoughtfulness when considering application of the law to the facts presented and implications of the other side's assertions and had to effectively acknowledge her prior comment (without the benefit of briefing on a relatively obscure issue) was incorrect.

I have seen plenty of judges be stubborn and stick with their legally unsound opinions, and Judge Gaines Phelps is not one of them. She is truly a jewel of the bench.