Hon. Michael J. Finifter
Associate Circuit Judge
Circuit Court
Baltimore County County
3rd Circuit

Rate a judge
Attorney Average Rating:   4.0 - 8 rating(s)
Non-Attorney Average Rating:   5.0 - 4 rating(s)


General Rating Criteria

* Temp. Temperament (1=Awful,10=Excellent)
* Sch. Scholarship (1=Awful,10=Excellent)
* Indu. Industriousness (1=Not at all industrious,10=Highly industrious)
* Comp. Ability to Handle Complex Litigation (1=Awful,10=Excellent)
* Punct. Punctuality (1=Chronically Late,10=Always on Time)
* Ab-Pr. General Ability to Handle Pre-Trial Matters (1=Not all Able, 10=Extremely Able)
* Ab-Tr. General Ability as a Trial Judge (1=Not all Able, 10=Extremely Able)
Flex Flexibility In Scheduling (1=Completely Inflexible,10=Very Flexible)
    

Criminal Case Rating Criteria (if applicable)

* Ev-Cr. Evenhandedness in Criminal Litigation (1=Demonstrates Bias,10=Entirely Evenhanded)
Bail General Inclination Regarding Bail (1=Pro-Defense,10=Pro-Government)
Plea Involvement in Plea Discussions (1=Not at all Involved, 10=Very Involved)
Inc.-Pr. General Inclination in Criminal Cases Pretrial Stage (1=Pro-prosecution,10=Pro-defense)
Inc.-Tr. General Inclination in Criminal Cases Trial Stage (1=Pro-prosecution,10=Pro-defense)
Inc.-S. General Inclination in Criminal Cases Sentencing Stage (1=Pro-prosecution,10=Pro-defense)


Civil Case Rating Criteria (if applicable)

* Ev-Cv. Evenhandedness in Civil Litigation (1=Not at all Evenhanded,10=Entirely Evenhanded)
Settle Involvement in Settlement Discussions (1=Not at all Involved,10=Very Involved)
Inc. General Inclination (1=Pro-defendant, 10=Pro-plaintiff)
    
  

General Rating Criteria

Criminal Case Rating Criteria
(if applicable)

Civil Case Rating Criteria
(if applicable)

EvaluatorIDDate*Temp.*Sch.*Indu.*Comp.*Punct.*Ab-Pr.*Ab-Tr.Flex
Criminal Defense Lawyer13249505/01/20251322 22 
Criminal Defense Lawyer13248204/30/2025        
Civil Litigation - Govt.12230610/20/2023        
Criminal Defense Lawyer3021010/21/20148341 2310
Criminal Defense Lawyer2901108/27/20141  1 111
Criminal Defense Lawyer2251707/24/201362312118
Civil Litigation - Private2012802/15/20131010810109109
Civil Litigation - Private1064905/04/201197768679
Criminal Defense Lawyer998402/17/20119121521 
Civil Litigation - Private419012/31/20086333 32 
Category Average  6.34.14.13.16.33.33.47.4
   
ID*Ev-Cr.BailPleaInc.-Pr.Inc.-Tr.Inc.-S.
1324951     
132482      
122306      
30210 92445
290111 1   
22517132111
20128      
10649      
9984      
4190      
 1.06.01.72.52.53.0
ID*Ev-Cv.SettleInc.Average
132495   1.9
132482   0.0
122306   0.0
302102753.3
290111111.0
22517   2.1
2012810 59.6
106499557.4
998410153.9
41902  3.1
 5.73.54.23.2

Only items marked with (*) are averaged into the displayed overall rating.

Non-attorney Rating
(if applicable)

EvaluatorIDDateJudgeIDOvr.AverageReadComment
Other13249405/01/2025563711.0Read Comment
Litigant2991310/08/201456371010.0Read Comment
Other2901008/27/2014563711.0Read Comment
Litigant1888311/30/20125637  Read Comment
Other1261612/21/201156371010.0Read Comment
Category Average   5.55.5