Hon. Joseph M. Claps See Rating Details
Associate Judge
Circuit Court
Cook County
Cook Judicial Circuit
See Comments

Attorney Average Rating:   2.4 - 8 rating(s)
Non-Attorney Average Rating:   5.0 - 4 rating(s)
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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. Joseph M. Claps


Comments


Other

Comment #: IL3508
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Justice Claps gets 10 stars ?? From Stars and Stripes ???? very respectful judge I’m very pleased with his fairness. He understands complex situations very quickly and uses rules of law to decide the out come . What more could you ask for.

Other

Comment #: IL3507
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
from the Star and strips red white and blue: This Judge is one of the nicest judges I have ever seen. He is very respectful to those he come in contact with. Most of all I saw Justice Claps as being fair. Lastly his courtroom decorum is amazing and fair to the helpless. You couldn’t have a better judge. The best. Judge 5 starts integrity pride and guts

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: IL3499
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
He brings a gun to the courthouse and he thinks it is a joke. It is not a JOKE. It is not about the gun he brought in. It is the arrogant and despicable behavior of this person that demeans and belittles our criminal justice system. He should have been removed a long time ago. Man should not be wearing a robe. It is a sickening site that makes lawyers want to throw up.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: IL3445
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
He brings a gun to the courtroom and gets away with it along with returning to his assigned courtroom. Absolutely pathetic. Too bad the Deputy Sheriff failed to do her job and stop him right there and recover the gun. He returned to his courtroom and is his usual arrogant self.

Other

Comment #: IL3413
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
I do not like his antics on and off the bench. His antics speak of his arrogance and complete disregard for decency and humility. One of the worst judges.

Other

Comment #: IL3356
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Judge Claps: has been fair , and I like everything people have said about him . Lawyers love him. He is to be respected he has earned it. 5 stars ?? I love all the bad reviewers I read about Judge Claps because they just made me like and respect him even more . He is the real deal we need more Justices like him.

Other

Comment #: IL2391
Rating:1.0
Comments:
He doesn't even rate the one star that you must give to post a rating.If possible he may deserve 1/4 star.

Other

Comment #: IL2233
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
The last person who wrote about Clapps is clueless. He is not a good judge and frankly he is one of the worst. Cook County can do a lot better than him. Horrible judge. Thankfully I have avoided him.

Other

Comment #: IL2204
Rating:10.0
Comments:
I have been in Honrable Claps court room
He knows the laws and if not, he will take the time to look it up. He was a lawyer for 40+ years.If anyone in his court room is not honest he will know. His experience speaks for itself.
By the way his salary won't make a dent in Illinois budget/problems. Idiotic comments

Other

Comment #: IL1578
Rating:1.0
Comments:
I testified as a 20 year Chicago Police Officer. I have never been degraded as a 20 year Veteran Police Officer by A Judge in my entire Career. This Judge believed 2 Gang Members over my testimony. 1 of the Gang Members came from IDOC to testify and he found him more Credible. This Judge is not fair and he Hates the Police.

Other

Comment #: IL1565
Rating:10.0
Comments:
Best judge ever

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: IL1535
Rating:8.5
Comments:
One of the few judges who doesn't just blindly except the illogical explanations from lying police officers. He can be grouchy to attorneys appearing before him but understands the concept of "beyond a reasonable doubt" better than any other judge at 26th street. He is fair, knowledgeable & will take the time to look up the law if he doesn't know it. He is also not pressured by the media or the system. He does what he thinks is right & is courageous enough to stand up for those being railroaded by the system. I would gladly practice in his courtroom for the remainder of my career if I could.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: IL1277
Rating:1.3
Comments:
This guy makes over $185,000.00 a year. This is an insult to all the hardworking and retired taxpayers in this state. I propose that in order to tackle the budget problem in Illinois this man should be removed from the bench.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: IL1270
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
He is an absolutely pathetic judge. He is a legend in his own mind. I do not want to be anywhere near this guy and his courtroom. It is a very unpleasant place and a room lacking in proper decorum and temperament. A place to be avoided.

Other

Comment #: IL1145
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
His presence and demeanor is abhorrent and distasteful. A complete abomination.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: IL1099
Rating:1.4
Comments:
When I hear the name Joe Claps, I invoke the procedural tactic known as SOJ Substitution of Judge. I do not want to be in his courtroom and see the first hand abuse of litigants. It is unfortunate.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: IL1090
Rating:1.9
Comments:
I have read and heard that there are prosecutors and criminal defense attorneys alike who do not like this guy. I have no use for him and I do not like him as well. He is not a dignified person in how he conducts himself. He is someone that people should avoid and give little attention to because he is not worth it.

Other

Comment #: IL999
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
I think we something very mediocre here with this judge.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: IL996
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
I cannot bear the sight of this man. I have no regard for him as a man and as a judge.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: IL969
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
He is a horrible judge. I despise how he treats people in his courtroom. He has no business being a judge. One can make a strong argument that he is the worst judge in the 26th Street courthouse. I have never rated a judge before, and he is the first one that I have rated. There is something wrong with the selection process; you know it is broken down when you see people like him on the bench.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: IL960
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
His courtroom is unbearable. I am glad that I do not have to be there each day, like the public defenders and the state's attorneys.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: IL870
Rating:1.9
Comments:
His courtroom is such a miserable place, and I feel bad for all of the personnel that have to be there with him every day. It is so unfortunate.

Prosecutor

Comment #: IL869
Rating:1.6
Comments:
He has no business wearing a black robe to be a fair arbiter of justice. He lacks professionalism, patience, dignity, scholarship, and the necessary demeanor to be a judge. He is an embarrassment to the judiciary and his appointment, and his continued service as a judge reflects how the Cook County court system selection process has broken down. He is unfit to be a judge.