Hon. Laura Taylor Swain (Chief Judge) See Rating Details
District Judge See Comments
S.D.N.Y.  
Average Rating:6.8 - 16 rating(s)
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Ratings

*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=Chronic`y Late,10=Always on Time)
*Evenhandedness in Civil Litigation:    (1=Demonstrates Bias,10=Entirely Evenhanded)
*Evenhandedness in Criminal Litigation:   (1=Demonstrates Bias,10=Entirely Evenhanded)
Flexibility In Scheduling   (1=Completely Inflexible,10=Very Flexible)
General Inclination Regarding Bail (1=Pro-Defense,10=Pro-Government)
General Inclination in Criminal Cases, Pre-Trial:   (1=Pro-Defense,10=Pro-Government)
Involvement in Civil Settlement Discussions:   (1=Least Involved,10=Most Involved)
General Inclination in Criminal Cases, Trial:    (1=Pro-Defense,10=Pro-Government)
General Inclination in Criminal Cases, Sentencing:    (1=Most Lenient,10=Most Harsh)
Typical Discount Off Guidelines for Cooperators:    (1=10%,10=100%)
  Items marked with (*) are averaged into the displayed overall rating
Comments


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What others have said about Hon. Laura Taylor Swain (Chief Judge)


Comments


Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 35325
Rating:1.0
Comments:
[Redacted], horrible , Refuses to follow black letter law. Is not a legal scholar. Arbitrary rulings.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: 35181
Rating:10.0
Comments:
What a pleasure to appear before CJ Swain. Courteous, compassionate and considerate. The epitome of excellence in the judiciary. Exceedingly patient, punctual and professional. Thorough beyond measure. She should be cloned.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: 34417
Rating:10.0
Comments:
What a wonderful judge and person. My client didn't get a great sentence from her but she was so fair, so empathetic and decent to him. He got what he deserved and even with a horrific spate of domestic violence arrests she still gave him a below guidelines sentence. Judge Swain was so prepared and so worked so hard on this matter - and my client was one of dozens in a multi-defendant case. I'd love her for any trial I'd have in the future as her temperament is extraordinary as well. What a wonderful person, I was genuinely shocked during the sentencing at the effort and decency she showed.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: 23539
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
A moderately pro-government judge, but one who also shows extraordinary, genuine consideration for everyone in her courtroom, including defendants and their families. It means a lot.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 22439
Rating:8.6
Comments:
Be warned: Do not wear cologne/perfume in or around her!!!!A pleasant, informed jurist but whose trial procedures are peculiar to say the least..requires adversaries to hold hands and sing 'kumbayya" instead of conductind aggressive litigation..read her trial rules!!!

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 21791
Rating:1.0
Comments:
I had a civil case against the Government with Judge Swain and I had disclosed numerous valid reasons why the SDNY was the proper venue and jurisdiction. She ignored my Pro Se requests and transferred the case to a far away district where I have no hope of being able to adjudicate it.

Litigant

Comment #: 21693
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
A Fair And Ethical Judge Who Runs Her Court According To The Rule Of Law... Seasoned Attorney Or Pro-Se Litigant, You Can Expect A Fair Hearing Before This Judge.
Michael A. Hense

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: 19499
Rating:9.0
Comments:
As smart as they come with a quality that most experienced jurists forgot about long ago; compassion. Judge Taylor-Swain reads what you submit, listens to what you have to say and makes you feel like you are on equal footing with the government. Hard to do better on sentencing in the SDNY.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 19409
Rating:9.8
Comments:
Wonderful judge, very smart and hard working.

Prosecutor

Comment #: 18911
Rating:10.0
Comments:
Best judge in the southern district court. fair, unbiased. takes her time but is fully prepared, knows all about her cases so can make proper decisions.

Other

Comment #: 12673
Rating:10.0
Comments:
Hon. Laura Taylor Swain is one of the best judges that this court will ever have and if i had it my way she would work for president obam and appointed the highers job in our court system. because she is that good.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 8544
Rating:6.5
Comments:
Pleasant, courteous and disorganized. Knows what she knows and makes little effort to learn that which she does not. Must be spoon fed.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 5272
Rating:3.2
Comments:
Matters have sat for years without a ruling by the court.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 5064
Rating:10.0
Comments:
Judge Swain seems very academic and careful not to take sides based on satellite issues.

Other

Comment #: 1703
Rating:10.0
Comments:
Fantastic judge!