"The Robing Room: CA State Judges

Hon. Richard Y. Lee	See Rating Details
Judge Superior Court
Orange County	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 3.9 - 4 rating(s) Non-Attorney Average Rating: - 0 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. Richard Y. Lee

Comments

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA49316
Rating:6.2

Comments:
Can be fine except should an attorney make a request or contradict him even so subtlety something kicks in his brain and he becomes a combination of hostile and defensive, and as described below a bit of child like bully, inexplicable but he does it in open court if his mood catches him.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA48752
Rating:2.0

Comments:
Judge Lee is a bully of the worst sort. He receives joy from belittling attorneys in his courtroom. I have been in his courtroom on many occasions. I've been an attorney for decades and have practiced all over the state and have never seen such explicit arrogance.

He requires attorneys to submit to his intellect as well as his whims before granting them relief that is afforded by the code, not his benevolence. He angers easily, and uses insults and demeaning interactions to "teach" younger attorneys. He makes the most routine interaction one that he has to "win" by 1) pointing out his own intellect by identifying other (but not better) options or 2) displaying utter frustration, despite the attorney presenting the best and most thought out presentation. He thinks he is doing a good job because his conduct goes unchecked (watch the attorneys on Zoom who are not arguing for their reaction).

If you have to appear in his courtroom, be ready to suck up in order to move your case along for your client. There is no place for this jurist in our profession, it is disappointing to see this type of bully elevated to the honorable position of judge.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA32620
Rating:4.3

Comments:
Worked for Paul Hastings as a defense lawyer should definitely be challenged with any employment FEHA cases. Though other OC judges have had past defense employment experience if you are reading this for Wrongful termination or FEHA case, challenge him immediately and seek a new judge.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: CA25445
Rating:3.3

Comments:
Judge Lee is a petty dictator. His only goal is to encourage submission of all before him and to profit from aligning with powerful interests present in his courtroom. His only concerns relate to things that revolve around his personal beliefs and experience. Civil cases appear to almost be a joke to him, presumably because he was such an accomplished US attorney (eye roll). Plaintiff's discovery? Why bother. Sanctions to offset unethical conduct by a defense attorney? Don't be rude, this is civil court! All of his rulings are designed to discourage resort to the courts, presumably, with the hope that everyone on his calendar will just go away. His caprice is only out shined by his ineptitude, and don't you dare point out when he is wrong because it is illegal to disagree with a judge (eye roll).