Hon. James C. ChalfantJudgeSuperior CourtLos Angeles
3.2
| Comment # | Occupation | Rating | Comments | Date & Time | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 120897 | Civil Litigation - Private | No Rating | I've been in front of Judge Chalfant numerous times. Due to the nature of the cases he hears in the writs department, I've lost most of my cases in front of him. He gives you a fair shake; he reads the papers and relevant portions...Read More | 10/05/2023 02:27 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 118733 | Civil Litigation - Private | View Details | Quite simply, one of the most intelligent and hardest working judges in Southern California. He studies the papers filed in his court, he listens carefully to the arguments of counsel, he engages respectfully with counsel to clari...Read More | 06/05/2023 01:51 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 117641 | Civil Litigation - Private | No Rating | Win, lose or draw, you have to appreciate a judge that writes you a 50-page decision. | 04/27/2023 11:14 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 116970 | Criminal Defense Lawyer | No Rating | Lost motions a few times; won motions a few times; sat through calendars. IMO, Judge Chalfant had read all the papers and his rulings made sense. Had some busy calendars with crazy complicated facts schemes. | 03/26/2023 01:46 AM | Contact reviewer |
| 58775 | Litigant | No Rating | I have had the good fortune to observe Judge Chalfant in a couple of cases. He is bright, prepard, and most of all he knows the law. He is not affected by emotion, political bias, or other factors that have no bearing on the cas...Read More | 08/17/2018 06:37 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 56390 | Civil Litigation - Govt. | View Details | Judge Chalfant is thorough, fair, and extremely patient. Often, he knows the record better than the litigants appearing before him. Even when I have lost in front of him, I felt that he made the right decision. | 05/27/2018 07:15 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 52713 | Civil Litigation - Govt. | No Rating | Apparently did not give any attention to the matter. allowed "assistant" to be the "judge". Contradicted his own stated positions. Allowed a hack receiver to slip in perverse "orders" which ignored previous positions and edicts,...Read More | 11/18/2017 03:24 AM | Contact reviewer |
| 52508 | Civil Litigation - Private | View Details | It appears that all the negative reviews come from one case, so I would take those reviews with a grain of salt, particularly by people inexperienced with the legal system. Judge Chalfant is known as a hardworking judge who is v...Read More | 11/03/2017 01:58 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 52408 | Other | No Rating | Just like there are sick people, there are sick judges, and he is definitely one of them. Instead of giving Merritt his job back he should have given him a prison sentence along with the others for allowing Gabriel to be tortured ...Read More | 10/28/2017 08:21 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 48559 | Court Staff | No Rating | This Judge is heavily biased in favor of the County of Los Angeles. No matter the evidence, he woukd not rule against the County. | 03/30/2017 12:54 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 44081 | Litigant | No Rating | This judge is a racist and a bigoted bully!! He is handling a case in which he has no jurisdiction and is using his position of authority to cover up one defendant's crimes. | 07/05/2016 02:48 AM | Contact reviewer |
| 40823 | Other | No Rating | It is our responsibility to keep our kids safe but more so child protective services and law enforcement and those who make the final decisions. This case is wrong in so many ways. This should never have happened to this kid or an...Read More | 02/11/2016 05:50 AM | Contact reviewer |
| 40625 | Civil Litigation - Private | No Rating | Chalfant is very bright, but there is something off with him when it comes dealing with human beings. He has a streak of hubris tinged with sadism. If life were a math problem, he'd be great. | 02/02/2016 06:45 AM | Contact reviewer |
| 40622 | Other | No Rating | How can you allow someone who deserved equal punishment as the parents who harmed this child to be free to go back to a job where it was his JOB to protect Gabriel and MANY other children? How does America keep failing these poor ...Read More | 02/02/2016 04:29 AM | Contact reviewer |
| 40604 | Other | No Rating | HORRIBLE and Neglectful to JUSTICE! | 02/01/2016 04:38 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 40593 | Court Staff | No Rating | Please help us understand your decision!! Gabriel Fernandez needs justice. We are going backwards, this society needs better people in charge! If Merritt does not get fired because he didn't do his job right with this little angel...Read More | 02/01/2016 12:49 AM | Contact reviewer |
| 40581 | Criminal Defense Lawyer | View Details | horrible and incompetent judge. this judge should be remove how can he make such a decision on the death of a child and free the social workers who should go to jail. shame on you. | 01/31/2016 02:34 AM | Contact reviewer |
| 40580 | Civil Litigation - Private | View Details | not a good judge very sad an disappointing no justice | 01/31/2016 12:22 AM | Contact reviewer |
| 40571 | Other | No Rating | Any Judge who ignores such insurmountable evidence, is incapable of making a lucid, well-informed, legal decision. The sheer number of complaints and visits was a red flag to Mr. Merritt. He is supposed to look after the welfare...Read More | 01/30/2016 05:30 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 40561 | Criminal Defense Lawyer | No Rating | Please be the voice of Gabriel! What if this was your grandson. Make the social worker an example that if they are over worked to speak up but not let our child pay for that price. Children are innocent they do not ask to be born....Read More | 01/30/2016 08:56 AM | Contact reviewer |
| 40559 | Criminal Defense Lawyer | View Details | Justice for Gabriel! Been following this case all the way from Washington State. Gregory Merritt had ONE job to do and he failed. Yet you are willing to give his job back? So much evidence that he could have been saved! I'm sure i...Read More | 01/30/2016 06:56 AM | Contact reviewer |
| 40558 | Other | No Rating | Very poor decision. There is still NO justice for Gabriel. My heart breaks regarding this decision, Judge Chalfant. We have to take a stand against the mediocrity of the system. What type of example is this decision setting for ot...Read More | 01/30/2016 06:01 AM | Contact reviewer |
| 40556 | Other | No Rating | Its clear the social worker did not do his job....But yet the judge is letting him get his pay. Its called commen sence...A boy had his life taken and the judge rules for the social worker..Sickening....This judge needs to resign....Read More | 01/30/2016 04:05 AM | Contact reviewer |
| 40555 | Other | No Rating | Gregory Merritt obviously ignored blatant signs of abuse such as Gabriel having a BB pellet in him. There were 60 reports of abuse and he chose to believe the abusers? It is unbelievable that Mr. Merritt is even asking to be reins...Read More | 01/30/2016 03:45 AM | Contact reviewer |
| 40554 | Other | No Rating | #justiceforgabriel | 01/30/2016 03:26 AM | Contact reviewer |
| 40536 | Other | No Rating | How can you justify giving him his job back?? I bet you won't answer that! | 01/29/2016 05:27 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 40529 | Other | No Rating | As far as the Gabriel Fernandez case, I have one question for this judge that believes that Mr. Merritt should have his job back. If this was a child of YOURS or in Your family that was not looked after (as his job required), ther...Read More | 01/29/2016 01:17 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 40520 | Other | No Rating | Do they just allow anyone to become a judge these days? How can someone have such authority with such a poor mindset. I'm sure if it was his own child he wouldn't be so damn lenient on this decision and giving this so called supe...Read More | 01/29/2016 05:40 AM | Contact reviewer |
| 40518 | Criminal Defense Lawyer | View Details | Judge chalfant should lose his job just like Gregory Merritt. Cannot believe he would rule for Gregory to get his job back. Knowing he failed to do his job. An innocent child lost his life in such a horrific way just because Grego...Read More | 01/29/2016 05:37 AM | Contact reviewer |
| 40507 | Litigant | No Rating | This judge should lose his job! How can he rule that Merritt is worthy of a job protecting small children. Would he let this jerk be in charge of his own grandchildren?? Gabriel needs justice and this judge is doing both to help i...Read More | 01/29/2016 01:54 AM | Contact reviewer |
| 40502 | Criminal Defense Lawyer | View Details | Little Gabriel deserved justice! | 01/28/2016 11:18 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 40501 | Other | No Rating | It is completely absurd that you would grant this case worker his salary and benefits. He did not do his job. He was careless and irresponsible. There werre many times Gabriel could have been saved. As a result of this case work...Read More | 01/28/2016 10:19 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 40499 | Criminal Defense Lawyer | No Rating | Please help us understand your decision!! Gabriel Fernandez needs justice. We are going backwards, this society needs better people in charge! If Merritt does not get fired because he didn't do his job right with this little angel...Read More | 01/28/2016 10:07 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 40490 | Other | No Rating | Truly a sad day to reinstate someone who clearly did not take his job seriously enough to help his little boy... It's already a broken system that he is a part of and if he couldn't do his job right in the first place Why ?? Give ...Read More | 01/28/2016 08:48 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 40489 | Other | No Rating | The decision to side with the social worker involved in handling Gabriel Fernandez' case, is appalling to voters. Gregory Merritt did not do his job and he did not protect that child. That baby was tortured and murdered and there ...Read More | 01/28/2016 08:04 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 40488 | Other | No Rating | I don't understand how a judge would even consider reinstating Gregory Merrit as a social worker when he failed Gabriel Fernandez on so many levels! What does it take for CFS employees to step in and removed a child out of harms w...Read More | 01/28/2016 07:43 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 40487 | Other | No Rating | Words can't even explain how I feel that a child had to die because of this man that you are letting back in he clearly does not deserve another chance another chance to kill more children and you not doing your job as a judge to ...Read More | 01/28/2016 07:31 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 40486 | Other | No Rating | It's sad to see that you have gave someone a second opportunity who clearly doesn't deserve it. Someone has been Murdered (Gabriel) under their watch with clear signs of abuse. Me as a Grandmother would have seen the signs both of...Read More | 01/28/2016 07:15 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 40482 | Other | No Rating | Anyone that condones the conduct of Gregory Merrit is a poor excuse of a human and just as guilty for murdeing Gabriel FernAndez and any other children that have not made the news. I do not understand how he can be reinstated to...Read More | 01/28/2016 06:31 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 40479 | Other | No Rating | As a representative of justice, you have failed to hold the law to the highest standard. Your judgment has some questionable behavior. In the case of Gabriel Fernandez you have failed to hold the social worker responsible for negl...Read More | 01/28/2016 05:49 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 40478 | Other | No Rating | SHAME ON YOU !!! You have no business being a judge you gave this little boy no justice at all !!!!! That social worker let this little boy die and did nothing about it and now you have given that sorry man his job back so he can ...Read More | 01/28/2016 05:26 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 40477 | Other | No Rating | Please do the right thing and give Gabriel Fernandez Justice, that little boy repeatedly asked for help, is that not what we teach our children to do when In need of help? And we did nothing, we failed this little boy, that monste...Read More | 01/28/2016 05:00 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 40467 | Other | No Rating | Really ! Seems as though you have no regard for the safety and welfare of children and you should be outed..I only wish you could be charged for the crimes that are commited by these people you allow to have a position that puts ...Read More | 01/28/2016 01:51 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 40465 | Other | No Rating | You have failed Gabriel, just like his parents, and the social worker failed him! UNBELIEVABLE, and we are supposed to trust you to make the right choices (legally) but you ! You have failed!!! Just like they all failed this poor ...Read More | 01/28/2016 11:23 AM | Contact reviewer |
| 40460 | Other | No Rating | When will it be enough?.. Evidence of Gregory not knowing how to handle his job correctly is no excuse for anyone. He was in charge of other employees doing their job right.He had many opportunities just like 2 other people to hel...Read More | 01/28/2016 07:28 AM | Contact reviewer |
| 40457 | Other | No Rating | This judge's recent decision in favor of defendant, Gregory Merritt, seeking reinstatement and retroactive pay resulting from his firing by the County of L.A., is disgraceful and incomprehensible!! Merritt failed to properly supe...Read More | 01/28/2016 06:46 AM | Contact reviewer |
| 40454 | Other | No Rating | What if Gabriel was a relative of yours?! Anyone who was put in charge of Gabriel's welfare should be taking responsibility! Gabriel died because the "adults" who were supposed to help him didn't! REST IN PEACE, GABRIEL FERNANDEZ...Read More | 01/28/2016 06:20 AM | Contact reviewer |
| 40453 | Criminal Defense Lawyer | View Details | HORRIBLE!!! You are basically applauding that social worker for helping Gabriels mom n bf kill him!! Heartless and complete unjust decision made. | 01/28/2016 06:20 AM | Contact reviewer |
| 40452 | Other | No Rating | What's wrong with you? You should not give someone any compensation or a job working with children when they are not doing their job period. | 01/28/2016 06:01 AM | Contact reviewer |
| 40448 | Criminal Defense Lawyer | View Details | Doesn't care about justice. | 01/28/2016 05:24 AM | Contact reviewer |
| 40445 | Criminal Defense Lawyer | View Details | Worst judge in thr history, he should be removed n revoked as a attorney and judge. | 01/28/2016 05:05 AM | Contact reviewer |
| 40444 | Other | No Rating | James C. Chalfant, I am appalled. How dare you side with DCFS by allowing Gregory Merritt to return! Shame on you. RIP Baby Gabriel, we will continue fighting for you. | 01/28/2016 05:03 AM | Contact reviewer |
| 40440 | Criminal Defense Lawyer | View Details | This judge displays poor judgment how could he have close the case of this poor child who was murder and abuse more needs to be done Justice for Gabriel | 01/28/2016 04:53 AM | Contact reviewer |
| 40431 | Other | No Rating | We all know what a disgusting job these social workers did, Justice for Gabriel will always be in my heart!please remove this human from being a judge, hes not capable of doing his job right!! RIP sweet Angel above Gabriel :( | 01/28/2016 04:15 AM | Contact reviewer |
| 40430 | Other | No Rating | How can he reinstate the supervisor in charge of Gabriels case?!?! What is wrong with this man!!! Justice for Gabriel! | 01/28/2016 04:09 AM | Contact reviewer |
| 39030 | Other | No Rating | I am more and more perturbed to even come to your country of california. Have you even shot a gun before? Whats the difference if i have 15 round magazines or 10? I can get 100 10 round mags and carry all if that's how silly yo...Read More | 11/20/2015 10:52 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 38404 | Civil Litigation - Private | View Details | Thoughtful, experienced, knowledgeable | 10/21/2015 01:55 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 34524 | Other | No Rating | His rulings over land use decisions have no rational basis and has an opportunistic interpretation of CEQA to oppose planning for the future. | 05/01/2015 02:58 AM | Contact reviewer |
| 32532 | Civil Litigation - Govt. | View Details | Since he moved to Writs and Receivers, he has become a complete pinhead. He obviously hates the assignment and is taking it out on lawyers seeking relief in his courtroom. A very childish and petulant response from someone who i...Read More | 01/23/2015 06:49 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 32529 | Civil Litigation - Private | View Details | Highly intelligent, scholarly and neutral. Like other comments state, he reads everything: he looks up case and statutes, he even looks up cites that come up when he looks up cites. He'll ask you to point to your papers, your de...Read More | 01/23/2015 05:33 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 32050 | Civil Litigation - Private | No Rating | Strong judge. Got the big picture IMMEDIATELY. Very courteous and not lazy like his sad sack counterpart in Department 86. She is incredibly lazy. If you are going to have lots of writs and receivers action, it is almost worth...Read More | 01/05/2015 06:26 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 31970 | Civil Litigation - Private | View Details | Assumes facts not in evidence. Gets many facts wrong. Fails to address the legal issues stated by plaintiff. Appears tired and past retirement. | 01/01/2015 12:20 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 31290 | Civil Litigation - Private | View Details | Great judge. Very smart. He read all of the papers. He caught all details, and saw the whole picture. | 11/26/2014 05:05 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 28437 | Criminal Defense Lawyer | View Details | Judges on the law. Pays attention to credibility of counsel as well as litigants. Gets it right. | 07/28/2014 10:15 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 28123 | Civil Litigation - Private | View Details | Great judge - extremely smart, hard working, and humble. As a lawyer, I was very impressed with how courteous and explanatory he was to unrepresented litigants. | 07/16/2014 08:05 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 26818 | Civil Litigation - Private | View Details | He's extremely intelligent and detail-oriented. He reads EVERYTHING, drafts detailed tentative rulings, and patiently engages in long intellectual discussions with counsel during oral argument. He rarely changes his tentative ru...Read More | 05/06/2014 11:59 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 26371 | Civil Litigation - Private | View Details | No nonsense, law judge. Refreshingly candid approach. A true neutral. | 04/05/2014 06:47 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 25305 | Civil Litigation - Private | View Details | He is one of the best judges in LASC. He is smart, decisive, and knowledgeable. | 02/21/2014 12:32 AM | Contact reviewer |
| 23129 | Civil Litigation - Private | View Details | Judge Chalfant seems to have an axe to grind with female attorneys that appear before him. He is much harsher and much more abrupt to women lawyers. | 09/01/2013 04:36 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 19780 | Civil Litigation - Private | No Rating | He's a good guy. Tries to get it right. Reads the papers. Issues a well thought out tentative and will engage in oral argument. Even though I have lost most of my cases in front of him, I always enjoy appearing in front of him. | 01/29/2013 04:30 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 15257 | Civil Litigation - Private | View Details | Very smart. Perhaps the hardest working judge on the bench in LA. He has clerk hand each side 1 copy of single spaced, multi-paged tentative ruling/decision prior to hearing on most motions or writs. Read tenative closely and ...Read More | 06/01/2012 07:04 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 14962 | Civil Litigation - Private | View Details | Chalfant is like a car with a powerful engine and a defective GPS. He will often head off the wrong direction and even take you to the wrong destination, but you will get there quickly and without any hint of doubt. | 05/16/2012 08:52 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 13843 | Litigant | No Rating | I appeared before this judge in a Writ of Mandate action. I appreciated his patience in letting me get my non-legal profession actions completed. I especially appreciate his ruling on the matter in my favor! | 03/08/2012 04:02 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 13646 | Criminal Defense Lawyer | View Details | Great judge. His decisions are well reasoned, even if it doesn't go your way. This is one of the few judges that I feel honored to be in front of. He also reads everything so make sure your papers are tight. | 02/22/2012 08:26 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 2066 | Civil Litigation - Private | View Details | Very impressed with his carefulness and thoroughness in deciding matters. He also has firm control over his courtroom without coming across as arrogant or condescending. | 06/08/2008 07:14 PM | Contact reviewer |
| 1672 | Criminal Defense Lawyer | View Details | Smart, hard-working, great at resolving cases. Can be cranky. | 02/27/2008 06:06 PM | Contact reviewer |
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