"The Robing Room: FL State Judges

Hon. Robert E. Belanger	See Rating Details
Circuit Court
Martin County 19th Circuit	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 5.5 - 2 rating(s) Non-Attorney Average Rating: 4.0 - 3 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

What others have said about Hon. Robert E. Belanger

Comments

Other

Comment #: FL2916
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Makes up his mind before heading to trial. G-D help those who end up with him as their judge. He also is known to be involved with a certain state attorney. A no win situation for the public.

Court Staff

Comment #: FL2886
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Imagine that! A judge who researches the LAW before a case is heard. A well perpared judge who knows the law is NOT what the defense wants. He is fair, but he does not tolerate attorneys who misrepresent the facts or law.

Other

Comment #: FL2705
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Totally incompetent. Mind made up prior to trial. If there's any chance to ever supplant him from his place in line at the "public teet" I will be there to holler from the highest treetop!

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: FL2504
Rating:2.5

Comments:
Forget about getting an impartial judge in a criminal case. He prosecutes from the bench. I have never seen him give bond or reduce a bond. State never has to worry because he has LITERALLY researched the case law for them. I have found two 4th DCA cases which remanded the case with specific directions that he no longer preside over the case. In one case, they quoted Arsenio Hall when they saw Belanger's incredible findings of fact in a suppression hearing: "Things that make you go hmmm." Complete discredit to the bench. Will not give the defense any meaningful ruling. Only credit is that he will take a plea deal.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL666
Rating:8.5

Comments:
Judge Belanger is a credit to the bench. I have litigated numerous trials in front of him and have the highest opinion of his abilities as a judge. Although I was not familiar with him prior to him coming to the bench, I have to say that he performed admirably on the family law bench as well as on the civil bench. His greatest asset is that he will make a decision at the end of the day. He will not put things off to another day and his decisions will be well-reasoned and based upon the evidence presented. He allows lawyers to make their arguments and perform their task in the courtroom. His rulings on objections are generally sound. His written opinions are specific and lengthy. He does tend to be a little too much of a "law and order" kind of a guy in that he places a lot of emphasis in the courtroom on the testimony of police officers and previous criminal convictions. Overall, this judge is a pleasure to deal with and is always polite.