Hon. J. Michael Wachs
Circuit Judge
Circuit Court
Anne Arundel County
5th Circuit

Rate a judge
Attorney Average Rating:   4.4 - 23 rating(s)
Non-Attorney Average Rating:   1.0 - 83 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 Lawyer12447701/02/2024        
Criminal Defense Lawyer11084310/11/20226910101010101
Criminal Defense Lawyer9953710/06/20213     4 
Criminal Defense Lawyer9297902/26/2021        
Criminal Defense Lawyer9017210/26/2020        
Criminal Defense Lawyer9003910/21/20201111  1 
Criminal Defense Lawyer8613805/17/2020        
Criminal Defense Lawyer8613005/17/2020        
Criminal Defense Lawyer8612905/17/2020        
Criminal Defense Lawyer8612805/17/2020        
Criminal Defense Lawyer8259101/31/202011111111
Criminal Defense Lawyer7406808/10/201911111221
Criminal Defense Lawyer5498104/02/20181111  1 
Criminal Defense Lawyer5297012/05/2017        
Criminal Defense Lawyer5267611/15/2017        
Criminal Defense Lawyer5151509/11/2017991010 9105
Civil Litigation - Private4419407/11/201610101010101010 
Criminal Defense Lawyer4417907/10/2016        
Criminal Defense Lawyer4066402/04/2016        
Criminal Defense Lawyer4004401/07/201643332232
Criminal Defense Lawyer3837010/20/201511111111
Criminal Defense Lawyer3822810/14/201511111111
Civil Litigation - Govt.3821410/13/201521111211
Criminal Defense Lawyer3820710/13/2015        
Criminal Defense Lawyer3681808/10/2015        
Criminal Defense Lawyer3534006/10/201561114 1 
Civil Litigation - Private3527106/08/201511111111
Civil Litigation - Private3523706/07/201511111111
Criminal Defense Lawyer3084311/07/201411111211
Civil Litigation - Private1533706/05/201299109510101
Civil Litigation - Private1221611/02/201185      
Criminal Defense Lawyer730107/27/201017999571
Civil Litigation - Private522004/17/20091099 101010 
Civil Litigation - Private462602/04/200910910910101010
Civil Litigation - Private457501/28/2009107 7888 
Civil Litigation - Private456901/28/2009555 4 6 
Category Average  4.44.24.34.14.45.04.52.0
   
ID*Ev-Cr.BailPleaInc.-Pr.Inc.-Tr.Inc.-S.
124477      
110843895895
9953729 122
92979      
90172      
900391     
86138      
86130      
86129      
86128      
82591111111
74068122111
54981      
52970      
52676      
51515      
44194      
44179      
40664      
40044223332
38370111111
38228111111
38214111111
38207      
36818      
353401  21 
35271111111
35237111111
30843      
15337      
12216      
7301797383
5220      
4626      
4575      
4569      
 2.23.42.32.02.51.7
ID*Ev-Cv.SettleInc.Average
124477   0.0
110843   9.1
9953723 2.8
92979   0.0
90172   0.0
900391  1.0
86138   0.0
86130   0.0
86129   0.0
86128   0.0
825911111.0
740681221.2
5498111 1.0
52970   0.0
52676   0.0
5151510889.6
441941010 10.0
44179   0.0
40664   0.0
40044   2.8
3837011 1.0
3822811 1.0
382141111.2
38207   0.0
36818   0.0
353401112.0
352711111.0
352371111.0
308431111.1
1533779 8.6
1221610 57.7
7301   6.8
522010769.7
4626710 9.4
4575   8.0
456931 4.7
 3.73.52.72.8

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

Non-attorney Rating
(if applicable)

EvaluatorIDDateJudgeIDOvr.AverageReadComment
Litigant11974807/31/2023566811.0Read Comment
Litigant11602502/09/20235668  Read Comment
Court Staff10499705/21/20225668  Read Comment
Litigant10492905/17/2022566811.0Read Comment
Other10390904/03/20225668  Read Comment
Other10128212/10/2021566811.0Read Comment
Litigant9977010/13/2021566811.0Read Comment
Other9962110/08/20215668  Read Comment
Litigant9944910/02/2021566811.0Read Comment
Other9603906/13/2021566811.0Read Comment
Court Staff9456304/14/2021566811.0Read Comment
Litigant9329703/06/2021566811.0Read Comment
Other9329603/06/2021566811.0Read Comment
Other9194601/21/2021566811.0Read Comment
Other9086412/01/2020566811.0Read Comment
Other9084911/30/2020566811.0Read Comment
Other9019810/28/2020566811.0Read Comment
Litigant8975910/08/2020566811.0Read Comment
Other8969510/04/2020566811.0Read Comment
Other8915809/10/2020566811.0Read Comment
Other8881508/28/2020566811.0Read Comment
Litigant8778107/07/2020566811.0Read Comment
Litigant8776107/06/2020566811.0Read Comment
Other8705306/06/2020566811.0Read Comment
Other8633805/25/2020566811.0Read Comment
Other8622805/20/2020566811.0Read Comment
Other8613505/17/2020566811.0Read Comment
Other8613405/17/2020566811.0Read Comment
Other8612205/17/2020566811.0Read Comment
Other8455004/03/2020566811.0Read Comment
Other8375402/28/2020566811.0Read Comment
Other7896311/14/2019566811.0Read Comment
Litigant7860611/03/201956681010.0Read Comment
Other7787210/20/2019566811.0Read Comment
Litigant7694510/01/2019566811.0Read Comment
Other7331207/28/2019566811.0Read Comment
Litigant7222607/09/2019566811.0Read Comment
Other6835804/25/2019566811.0Read Comment
Litigant6426701/24/2019566811.0Read Comment
Litigant5502004/04/201856681010.0Read Comment
Litigant5040807/02/2017566811.0Read Comment
Other5013906/15/2017566811.0Read Comment
Other4966405/21/2017566811.0Read Comment
Court Staff4837203/21/2017566811.0Read Comment
Litigant4754502/02/2017566811.0Read Comment
Other4732801/20/2017566811.0Read Comment
Other4693612/28/20165668  Read Comment
Litigant4674212/14/2016566811.0Read Comment
Litigant4566610/03/201656681010.0Read Comment
Litigant4513409/03/2016566811.0Read Comment
Litigant4508208/31/2016566811.0Read Comment
Other4506908/30/2016566811.0Read Comment
Other4484108/18/2016566811.0Read Comment
Other4472208/12/2016566811.0Read Comment
Other4471708/11/2016566811.0Read Comment
Litigant4462508/05/2016566811.0Read Comment
Other4388306/23/2016566811.0Read Comment
Litigant4293505/24/2016566811.0Read Comment
Litigant4191204/07/2016566811.0Read Comment
Litigant3947712/10/2015566811.0Read Comment
Litigant3946512/09/2015566811.0Read Comment
Other3936512/06/20155668  Read Comment
Other3929012/04/2015566811.0Read Comment
Litigant3922312/02/2015566811.0Read Comment
Other3908411/22/2015566811.0Read Comment
Litigant3830010/17/2015566811.0Read Comment
Other3824310/14/20155668  Read Comment
Other3822010/13/20155668  Read Comment
Other3779509/29/20155668  Read Comment
Other3768409/22/20155668  Read Comment
Litigant3650407/26/2015566811.0Read Comment
Other3646307/24/20155668  Read Comment
Litigant3643207/22/2015566811.0Read Comment
Court Staff3607407/08/20155668  Read Comment
Litigant3586706/30/2015566811.0Read Comment
Other3582406/28/2015566811.0Read Comment
Other3577706/26/20155668  Read Comment
Other3577606/26/20155668  Read Comment
Other3575606/25/2015566811.0Read Comment
Litigant3574606/25/2015566811.0Read Comment
Other3574306/25/2015566811.0Read Comment
Litigant3567006/22/2015566811.0Read Comment
Other3566906/22/2015566811.0Read Comment
Other3566406/22/2015566811.0Read Comment
Other3565106/21/2015566811.0Read Comment
Litigant3551806/17/2015566811.0Read Comment
Litigant3548406/17/2015566811.0Read Comment
Other3541906/14/2015566811.0Read Comment
Other3533906/10/2015566811.0Read Comment
Litigant3533706/10/2015566811.0Read Comment
Litigant3531606/10/2015566811.0Read Comment
Other3525706/08/20155668  Read Comment
Other3525206/08/20155668  Read Comment
Other3525006/08/20155668  Read Comment
Other3393204/09/20155668  Read Comment
Other3391804/08/20155668  Read Comment
Litigant3034010/27/2014566811.0Read Comment
Other2343509/25/20135668  Read Comment
Other1821410/25/201256681010.0Read Comment
Other1779310/02/201256681010.0Read Comment
Other1652508/01/201256681010.0Read Comment
Other1642507/24/201256681010.0Read Comment
Other1233411/20/201156681010.0Read Comment
Category Average   1.91.9