"The Robing Room: CA 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)

Comments

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What others have said about Hon. Maria May J Santos

Comments

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: CA48444
Rating:1.8

Comments:
This individual is rude, mean-spirited, and poorly educated. She clearly does not understand the role of an impartial trier of facts, and is misguided and unschooled in her application of the law, and understanding of very basic facts put in front of her. Never again will I allow this individual to preside in any of my cases. I appeared in her court for a rather straightforward, domestic violence restraining order petition, which should have been granted. A very basic application of the law should have resulted in bare minimum a protective order, and even a move out order. But this individual showed bias, prejudice, and disrespect against the petitioner and his attorney almost from the very beginning of the hearing. She does not deserve to be a bench officer, commissioner, let alone a full-fledged judge in any court. She is terrible! Paper her whenever you end up in front of her!

Litigant

Comment #: CA46330
Rating:1.0

Comments:
In nearly 30 years of practice I have never personally litigated in front of a worse judicial officer (and from my experience veteran family lawyers in this part of Los Angeles routinely avoid or try to avoid this Commissioner at all costs). This Commissioner avoids complex financial issues, fails to read submitted briefs, develops and maintains snap judgments based on lacking or inadequate evidence (or no evidence at all), and her demeanor is quite rude and dismissive. Based on what I have personally experienced and heard first hand, I urge very careful consideration of any initiative to elevate this Commissioner to the Superior Court bench as a Judge.