Comment #: IL508
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
As a plaintiff I have to agree with IL176 and IL119, he needs to be on Broadway and not behind the bench. His theatrics and bullying from the bench are good theatre but only if you are not the target of his wrath! And IL248, how can you dash water on someone elses experience before Judge Taylor? I liked his antics, but expected complete judicial professionalism when it came time to rule. But instead he lwered the boom on my case because he did not like my lawyer. It cost me additional lawyers fees to get get it appealed and I am still in court trying to get to the judicial conclusion he should not have derailed with his huff, puff and ego! Speak of your own experiences and just be happy they are good ones with this guy!!

Comment #: IL248
Rating:7.6
Comments:
I believe everything that Poser IL 176 said, but still suspect that there might be some sour grapes motivating his comments, in part. I've appeared before Judge Taylor on numerous occasions. He is clearly incredibly bright and hard-working. His Achilles, however, is his complete lack of temperament. I suspect that part of the problem is that there is a direct correlation between the stupidity of the litigants/lawyers and his mood; the dumber/more unreasonable they are, the more abusive Taylor becomes. However, I man of his caliber should know better and needs to tone it down.

Despite his antics, he is probably still in the top 20 judges at the Daley Center.

Comment #: IL176
Rating:4.8
Comments:
Way too flippant in judicial demeanor. Cheapens the integrity of the Cook County Circuit Court through his own ridiculous and mocking approach to judging. I once saw an attorney oppose an attorneys' fee award entered against his client, and every time the attorney tried to express himself in open court, Judge Taylor said, "Okay, now it's up to $50,000. Do you want to keep arguing? You do? I can't believe it. Okay. $60,000." Observers in the courtroom were incredulous. "But, Your Honor," the lawyer pleaded, "I would like to point out that--" "70,000!" he replied. On another occasion, an attorney was attempting to convince Judge Taylor to accept his motion for a substitution of judges. (No doubt these are popular motions in his courtroom.) Judge Taylor denied it. The attorney then sought the judge's recusal based on an argument that was not comprehensible based on the limited oral argument given in open court. Judge Taylor said, "Okay, fine. I recuse myself and transfer this matter to the Presiding Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County for immediate reassignment." Then he turned 360 degrees in his chair and said, "As acting Presiding Judge of the Law Division, I hereby transfer this case to Judge Bill Taylor." It was intended as stand-up comedy for the amusement of the gallery and was exceptionally unjudicial, even if the ruling was ultimately accurate. It betrays deep-seated feelings of inferiority and promotes incivility at a time when incivility is reaching epidemic proportions. He seems to be more intelligent than the average Cook County judge, certainly more intelligent than Judge Disko (whose calendar he inherited) but his supreme arrogance and his random hostility inject major uncertainty into the equation. Go in with both eyes open.

Comment #: IL119
Rating:4.8
Comments:
Did not appear to have read motion briefs in one case and decided and prepared 2 orders before arguments. Seems inclined to keep anything in Cook County regardless of procedural merits. Also might have changed ruling (in my favor) out of anger at my opponent.