Hon. Joan E. Lynch See Rating Details
District Court Judge
District Court
Barnstable County
Barnstable
See Comments

Attorney Average Rating:   3.6 - 5 rating(s)
Non-Attorney Average Rating:   4.0 - 3 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. Joan E. Lynch


Comments


Litigant

Comment #: MA530
Rating:1.0
Comments:
This was the worst judge I have ever had the displeasure of being before. She does not know the law, is unfamiliar with the rules of evidence, and is extremely rude and arrogant, She is an affront to her profession, is an embarrassment in the courtroom, and is not worthy of the robe. How she made it to the bench is beyond me, but she should be immediately removed before she continues to miscontrue and give erroneous jury instructions, misjudge objections, and generally wreak havoc on litigants cases. She should be ashamed of herself.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: MA515
Rating:2.0
Comments:
Judge Lynch is one of the most biased judges I have ever been in front of. She us rude and condescending, and I have observed her deliberately giving the wrong jury instructions to ensure a guilty verdict (later overturned on appeal) and then sentencing a defendant to jail on a misdemeanor charge that should never have gone to trial. Very unsettling.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MA381
Rating:1.5
Comments:
TERRIBLE!!!! I agree with the person who says she should be KICKED off the bench!!!She also slept through our trial and barely gave us time to hear our case. I agree with a different post that she is rigged.

Other

Comment #: MA352
Rating:10.0
Comments:
The Honorable Judge Lynch presided over my trial. I was falsely accused and viciously pursued by my ex who had attacked me and then gotten me arrested on the false accusation that I'd attacked her first. Judge Lynch listened carefully to the facts of my case and came to the correct ruling of "not guilty." Beware, however: I found her to be very tough but very fair, and I walked into and out of Judge Lynch's courtroom an innocent man. If you've committed a crime, and you're hoping for a pushover judge to let you off the hook, I doubt that Judge Lynch is going to be your ticket to freedom. It was scary enough facing my first (and last) trial ever in front of her, knowing that I was innocent -- had I been guilty, I feel that she'd have intuited it and arrived at a much different decision in that case (and rightfully so). Judge Lynch's court, in my opinion, is a great example of how a courtroom should be conducted: it is a no-nonsense atmosphere, where freedom is available for the deserving, and (I'd guess) a harsh reality awaits those scofflaws that think they can come in and work the system.

Other

Comment #: MA252
Rating:1.0
Comments:
She is arrogant. Does not pay attention. She is a nasty. angry woman and should not even be a Judge! I heard it is only because who her ex husband is! I agree totally with the comment below "If we were in another country I would say that this was a rigged deal with the defendant's atty". She should be KICKED off the bench!

Civil Litigation - Govt.

Comment #: MA121
Rating:1.7
Comments:
Lack of knowledge, rules in error & arrogant,bad attitude. Tied in to her local group of Attorneys & prosecutors.
Actually slept during trial with her head between hands. Very unprofessional in my 30 years of trial court. I agree with last post, lack of interest in case. Disappiontment to the bench in my opinion.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: MA63
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
I cannot imagine a WORSE judge! She refused to look at any exhibit, dismissed witnesses before I could question them, shrugged her shoulders when I complained that 2 witnesses I subpoenaed from the defendant's company failed to show (defendant took the service!!). She prematurely dismissed the case because it was "too confusing".
If we were in another country I would say that this was a rigged deal with the defendant's atty. I was a pro se litigant, civil matter.
She was condescending and unpleasant.But worst of all, disinterested in the case. Never explored the issues until the actual trial which she quickly dismissed.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MA15
Rating:9.4
Comments:
Judge Lynch is a hardworking, even-tempered and intelligent judge who sets a standard of work ethic and collegiality among bench and bar. She is a standout among other judges for her work ethic and civility.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: MA3
Rating:3.3
Comments:
My opinion is that Judge Lynch is one-sided, far too subjective, often downright rude, defines the law as she sees fit and orchestrates a trial based on her preferred outcome. She's a former Barnstable County prosecutor and the former wife of the Barnstable County D.A. She's far too powerful and yields that power in a fashion suited only to her personal whim.