"The Robing Room: MD State Judges

Hon. William O. Carr	See Rating Details
Chief Judge Circuit Court
Harford County 3rd Circuit	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 4.7 - 9 rating(s) Non-Attorney Average Rating: 1.0 - 6 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

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What others have said about Hon. William O. Carr

Comments

Litigant

Comment #: MD6360
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Repeated Comment #: MD6339 2/1/17
Original Comment #: MD6328

The most recent charges against Judge Carr have been dismissed due to his motion claiming "denial of due process", the same thing that he has been complained about doing to others.
http://www.courts.state.md.us/cjd/publicactions.html
See "CJD 2015-033 Carr".

Also note a previous Private Reprimand - "CJD 2013-138, CJD 2014-002, CJD 2014-022 & CJD 2014-089 Carr (issued 12-16-14)"

If anyone else wants to file a complaint against him, the complaint form can be found at http://www.courts.state.md.us/cjd/pdfs/complaint_form.pdf

The instructions are at http://www.courts.state.md.us/cjd/complaint.html

The list of Frequently Asked Questions is at http://www.courts.state.md.us/cjd/faqs.html

With so many complaints about him on this site, filling out a form and sending it in would go a lot further than simply posting the complaint here. ;)
2/1/2017 9:12:11 AM

Litigant

Comment #: MD6170
Rating:1.0

Comments:
In response to comment #MD6169, that's exactly what I have seen in Judge Carr's court room - Absolute bias, malfeasance, and backdoor machinations.

Civil Litigation - Govt.

Comment #: MD6156
Rating:2.3

Comments:
Works hard to settle cases but tends to side with whoever is arguing more forcefully. Very difficult to get a timely ruling from him. Has a challenging habit of taking arguments "off the record" in chambers.

Litigant

Comment #: MD5823
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge deserves a 0 but it wasn't an option, so he sadly receives a 1 he doesn't deserve. Bought and paid for and doesn't care for true justice. It's really quite a shame for his soul.

Litigant

Comment #: MD5297
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Judgeless Carr had his mind made up on my case before he even heard any of the facts. He was extremely nasty and arrogant, and it amazes me that this guy even qualifies as a judge.

Other

Comment #: MD5218
Rating:1.0

Comments:
My mom was in court yesterday to hopefully be awarded the money and property back that her brother stole from their owns parents. My mom has been taking care of them and needs the necessary funds for their care. My mom had proof of everything in documents. Judge was very rude and arrogant and downright cold. Didnt even look at her proof. Shame on this Judge.

Other

Comment #: MD5126
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
I have been going through a divorce case with the Harford County Circuit Court for three years. I have filed numerous complaints and concerns of discrimination against me by Judge William O. Carr and it has fallen on deaf ears throughout all of my attempts and has negatively impacted my hearings and their outcomes. I have once again filed a requests with the court and have again been denied by Judge Carr, who continues to be allowed to rule on my requests even though my complaints are against him. I am desperately seeking someone to give me guidance and help on who I can contact to have my complaints and concerns heard prior to December 14, 2015 when I am scheduled for another hearing. Every time I have gone in front of Judge Carr I have been yelled at and belittled, refused to have an opportunity to actually speak and say more than two words and he has failed to review any documentation prior to entering the courtroom. I just want a fair hearing and a fair chance based on our case and the facts, not on continued discrimination! There are numerous complaints against this Judge, more than I could read, and they all sum up exactly what I have faced for these last 3 years, yet I cannot get anyone to hear me or stand up against this matter. If anyone reads this and knows how to help, please contact me. Any guidance and support would be so greatly appreciated!

Other

Comment #: MD3000
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Mr. Carr allows frequent violations of the Hicks rule. He also allows constitutional violations in abundance in most cases. He seems to be in total collaboration with the prosecutor's office. With him, Marshall and Eaves working together, they have committed Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law many times over in their Court's Circuit. He and his cronies should be in Federal Prison and not sitting in a position of honor and integrity in the great State of Maryland. Someone, please investigate and force this man out in Harford County. You will be doing the world a huge favor.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: MD2140
Rating:3.4

Comments:
He does not care if men hit women. He granted my ex-husband through a ex parte order custody of my daughters while he was on probation for assaulting me. I have not seen my daughters since. The studies all state that abusers use the court as weapons and that they destroy the mother-child bonds, which is exactly what happened in my case. He allows men to use the court system to torture women and abuse the children. I hold no criminal history or mental health history, but his office has continually attacked my character for reporting a serious crime and expecting my human rights to be enforced and that of my daughters. He is aware of the injustice in my case and refuses to correct it. I was married for 22 years and I am now homeless, childless and penniless after filing for divorce and reporting a crime. My ex enjoys a six-figure income. Apparently, women have no rights in his courthouse. The evidence regarding my ex is heavy, and he still refuses to allow me to even see my own daughters for no reason given and no evidence presented in court, other than that I am a loving mother. He obviously does not support motherhood or women. He gave my only daughters to a man that attacked me. I had no attorney to represent me or my daughters. I requested one for both of us. He does not believe in civil rights for all. His standards for a mother apparently are not the same for fathers. Women have a right to stay home and raise their children without fear of losing them if they report a crime.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: MD1997
Rating:3.8

Comments:
Judge Carr is hardworking and industrious. He gets to court early every morning. He spends many weekends writing decisions and handling clerical matters. He is one of the most effective settlement judges in the state. On the downside, he can be extremely rude to both counsel and litigants, on and off the record. He appears to be part of the "good old boy" network. He can hold up a trial date endlessly if he doesn't like your case. He keeps the Circuit Court in Harford County running as cost-effectively as possible with maximum efficiency.

Other

Comment #: MD1711
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Due to Judge Carr's lack of concern for our case, and for his lack of respect for Judge Marshall, he really ruined our lives and that of my fiance's son. He just disregarded things and put items onto his marshalls. He totally ignored Judge Marshalls decision at the trial. The man just is not really there to do the job he was hired for. IT HAS BEEN A TRULY TERRIFYING AND DIFFICULT 8 YEARS. WE LOST EVERYTHING BECAUSE OF HIM.

Other

Comment #: MD1062
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I was in the courtroom of Judge Carr just by chance. I had nothing to do with the case. A woman was asking for a protection order against her ex for sexually abusing their 4 year old daughter. The judge walked in, threw the files on his desk and immediately began berating the woman for making these accusations up so she wouldn't have to share custody. He granted the order of protection "so no more false allegations could be leveled at the father". It was unreal. When it was over, the woman went out into the hallway, weeping. Then a second woman left the courtroom and spoke to the mother. The second woman was the Maryland State Trooper that had investigated the case. She said to the mother "Ma'am, I am stunned. I have been a policewoman a long time and have never seen or heard of anything like this. I am so sorry you were treated that way. I am livid. I spoke with that little girl and I know the truth." When the mother asked the tropper why she didn't speak up, the trooper apologized and said she would have been held in contempt. I don't know if the allegations are true ot not, what I do know, as a US Citizen, Honorably Decorated Combat Veteran, I am shocked and hurt that a man in a position of power like that would behave so unprofessionally and petty. He should be ashamed. He is definitley NOT and officer and a gentleman.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: MD435
Rating:8.4

Comments:
Agree with Comment # 212.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD212
Rating:7.1

Comments:
Judge Carr handles mostly civil motions and other pretrial matters, and a lot of criminal pretrials. He does not try cases. He devotes substantial time to pretrial settlements, and through his own involvement in the process, has a very good record of resolving cases at that point. He makes himself available with a phone call on almost any pretrial matter in spite of his exceedingly heavy docket. He is in the courthouse twelve hours a day and on weekends. Any criticism of him for not "reading memoranda" may be true in some cases, but only because he cuts to the chase in the cases before him and puts procedural minutiae aside. He is extremely bright and has the ability to hear complex issues, but has his own approach in running his courtroom which he thinks nets the greatest benefit to the litigants and therefore to the citizens of Harford County.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD170
Rating:1.6

Comments:
Worst temperment of any judge in all 24 counties and D.C. even to the point that another sitting judge expressed amazement and dismay at his actions which he observed first hand.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD48
Rating:3.0

Comments:
Completely unwilling to read the briefs relating to a complex issue. Forces settlement at any cost rather than read briefs and make a decision (that could later be overturned).