Hon. James E. Snyder See Rating Details
Associate Judge
Circuit Court
Cook County
Cook Judicial Circuit
See Comments

Attorney Average Rating:   3.2 - 12 rating(s)
Non-Attorney Average Rating:   1.0 - 2 rating(s)
Please send me alerts on this judge
E-mail Address:




Add your own rating

E-Mail Address (will not be displayed)
   
Confirm E-mail Address      
Zip
Occupation

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


Please type what you see below:

    

What others have said about Hon. James E. Snyder


Comments


Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: IL3579
Rating:1.0
Comments:
Horrible judge. Condescending, arrogant, short-tempered, provides no basis for his rulings other than "denied" and rips you apart if you ask for the basis for his seemingly arbitrary ruling. Very disrespectful to female attorneys. Use your right to substitute judges if you get this guy. He has no business being a judge.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: IL3365
Rating:1.0
Comments:
General unpleasant and poor temperament. Doesn’t know the law and rules at random with little to no explanation. Will let male attorneys interrupt female attorneys repeatedly and speak to them in a condescending tone with zero consequences. Lost election several times but was appointed as an associate judge on the recommendation of Madigan and somehow ended up on one of the most sought after calendars by Cook County judges. Cronyism at its worst.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: IL2336
Rating:1.9
Comments:
Erratic and highly unprofessional. Very childish with an ego problem.

Litigant

Comment #: IL1825
Rating:1.0
Comments:
Horrible, biased, anti-military, anti-female, no reason given for his decisions. Very unpleasant

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: IL1627
Rating:1.1
Comments:
I have been before many judges, but this judge in an incredibly biased and unprofessional judge. He should be held accountable to his bosses for unethical actions on that bench. Just my opinion. So when voting time comes, he needs to be voted off of the bench. I agree with other comment: appearing before Judge Snyder in very unpleasant.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: IL1530
Rating:1.8
Comments:
Refused to give reasons for rulings - just a short "denied" on motions

On the first motion, I asked why the motion was denied and was severely scolded.

I have not done that since

In my opinion, I do not know what to expect in terms of temperament or whether precedent will be followed which makes appearing before Judge Snyder very unpleasant

Life is too short and the work already too hard

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: IL1526
Rating:1.0
Comments:
terrible judge. he doesn't read pleadings in advance, is not prepared for hearings and is very short tempered.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: IL1230
Rating:1.0
Comments:
Horrible temperament and, even worse, terrible grasp of the law. Totally inappropriate outbursts and incapable of impartiality, especially biased against the government.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: IL1098
Rating:8.1
Comments:
I also think the posters below might have the wrong judge. Judge Snyder has an overly full docket, but still tries to devote the time needed for each case. I've never once heard him yell at anyone.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: IL1051
Rating:9.9
Comments:
The ratings below make me think these people are thinking of the wrong judge. "erratic and emotional courtroom outbursts"? This man has a stone cold blank face and I've never seen him raise his voice, I struggle to hear him most of the time.

Exceptionally brilliant judge willing to apply the law regardless of who is arguing for what remedy. Fair and has the guts to make drastic decisions on the side of whoever is arguing correct law. Superb.

Litigant

Comment #: IL967
Rating:1.0
Comments:
This judge is incompetent and incapable of applying the law fairly. He gave glib and misleading information, then later denied that he had made the statement when he realized that it was inappropriate. You should request a different judge.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: IL799
Rating:1.1
Comments:
He is an awful judge. He is unfair and rude. He sees things his way, and doesn't listen to anyone else. He thinks that he is smarter than everyone else.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: IL597
Rating:1.0
Comments:
Appears to have pre-judged parties without any oral argument. Erratic and emotional courtroom outbursts. Substitution of judge as a matter of right advised.