"The Robing Room: MD State Judges

Hon. Vicki Ballou-Watts	See Rating Details
Circuit Judge Circuit Court
Baltimore County County 3rd Circuit	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 2.8 - 33 rating(s) Non-Attorney Average Rating: 3.0 - 7 rating(s)	Please send me alerts on this judge E-mail Address:

Add your own rating

E-Mail Address ()

* *

Confirm E-mail Address

* * *

Zip

Occupation

Add a comment only

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

Please type what you see below:

Not an even number!

What others have said about Hon. Vicki Ballou-Watts

Comments

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD9456
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge demonstrated a very poor understanding of the issues at hand and she was biased, unattentive and dismissive. We won, but I hope I am not before her again.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD9410
Rating:1.0

Comments:
The only two good ratings on this judge are at 9pm and 6am - maybe voted for herself..She is lazy, arrogant, really should not be on the bench..

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD9311
Rating:10.0

Comments:
The best Judge I have ever been in front of

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD9309
Rating:1.0

Comments:
One of the worst judges I have seen. She was ill-prepared and arrogant and her comments and interactions were biased. Her rulings (the several I observed) appeared to be entirely arbitrary and pre-determined.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD9294
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Incompetent, difficult, arrogant, decisions not based on evidence (and we won eventually). Really needs to be removed from the bench.

Other

Comment #: MD9266
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Overall I feel like Judge Vicki Ballou watts is prejudice, condescending , Rude, out of touch with her cases, unfair opinionated and brings her own personal agenda to the bench. She does not want to rarely hear anything the defense has to say as far as for the defendant. She makes her mind up before entering the courtroom. She likes to name call and humiliate people. I have watched her hand down an egregious sentence for people who have no record and have no opportunity to speak for theirselves. She has no compassion and does not base her sentences on facts she rather bases them on her own personal agenda and thoughts. The purpose of the courts is to get a fair trial and you will get no such thing if standing up in front oft his Judge. She needs to be brought up on charges of discrimination at the very least if not more.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD9197
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Have to agree with the majority here - very poor judge.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD8890
Rating:1.0

Comments:
We won our case, but this judge is arrogant and inattentive.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: MD8611
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Lazy and uninterested in reviewing the motions or even trying to determine the facts, when will they find some competent jurists for family court?

Other

Comment #: MD8543
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
I love Judge Ballou-Watts. She listened and unlike most judges I’ve been in front of in Baltimore County she seen through the act my child’s other parent put on. Like another comment stated most comments about her must be from the sore losers. I would recommend her, it was a long time coming but we got through it.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD8540
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Unquestionably, the best Judge I have ever been before. Adverse comments on this site have to be from sore losers. Judge Ballou-Watts is the epitome of an excellent Judge. Her quiet and expression free demeanor on the bench makes her hard to read but the result is always w a well thought out and correct decision.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD8431
Rating:1.0

Comments:
The general consensus is that she is arrogant and lazy and incompetent - I agree.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: MD8197
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Fairly arrogant for a judge - rulings do seem somewhat arbitrary

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD8168
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Several cases in front of this judge with arbitrary rulings with no basis.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD8119
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Shockingly biased and arrogant. Regretful to see her on the bench.

Other

Comment #: MD8054
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Worst family law Judge in Baltimore County. Judge Watts told my counsel that I seemed controlling and she could see why my child's mother is hiding her address. When I was assaulted by my child's mom in front of our child. Judge Watts then said call her "old school" and stated that she doesn't believe that children should be with both parents during the school year. She then allowed my child's mom to violate the custody agreement and provide a business address as her private residence when we have joint physical and legal custody. Most important she was sleep on the stand while I gave my testimony and then stated she found no change in circumstance. If your a dad fighting for your right as a father choose another Judge.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD8040
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I also find the 2 am positive outlier questionable! I also agree with the majority of the other posts - this judge is arrogant and biased and rules without considering the evidence.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD7965
Rating:1.0

Comments:
The previous 10 star review is a bit suspicious - which criminal case attorney is up at 2 a.m. to post such a positive review on line? I agree with the earlier posts

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: MD7957
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Excellent judge. Good judicial temperament. Excellent choice by judicial nominating commission.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: MD7896
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Very biased,arrogant,comes on the bench unprepared but with a pre-determined attitude, imposes imaginary rules, develops incorrect and not based on evidence opinions and then does not even bother to provide support. She was a personal injury lawyer in private practice, but truly the worst judge in my 19 years of practice.

Other

Comment #: MD7870
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Honorable Ballou-Watts is a very poor judge. Everytime Ive been in front of her she has been very unfair and did not listen to anything I had to say. She judged me off of my appearance she told me I "looked horrible" on record which I felt was very unprofessional of her. I also feel she is bias against Caucasian people. Ive been in front of her a few times and every time Ive watched carefully of how she acted towards other nationalies and everytime shes given them lighter sentences then people of my nationality. I really feel strongly that this needs to be addressed by the courts. She overall a very unprofessional judge and does not belong in our courts system.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: MD7791
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Agree with some of the other comments - totally ignored evidence or did not understand it, odd condescending attitude and handed down very indefensible rulings.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD7758
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Unfortunately, she was obviously completely inclined to one side from the outset of the case. Her rulings on discovery defied logic. Her opinion was poorly reasoned and ignored evidence.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD7755
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Very poor judge. Arrogant and does not seem to be able to absorb and understand the testimony - seems quite biased.

Other

Comment #: MD7488
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
This judge is the worst judge I have ever encounter. She stole my son in a cina case...not because I did anything wrong or broke the law but because she felt like it! The law did not apply to my entire case in no way.my case is on Google....please go look! The sad part of it all is the Governor's Office is aware and does nothing.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD7438
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Agree with most of the other comments - very arrogant, obviously biased and not familiar with complex law.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: MD7434
Rating:8.4

Comments:
She is willing to listen to the mitigatioon and take it into consideration.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD7324
Rating:1.0

Comments:
There is nothing good I can say about this judge.

Litigant

Comment #: MD7108
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge is one of the worst judges I have ever seen. Her "calm demeanor" and stolid temperament -- barely showing any emotion -- are mere cover for COMPLETE incompetence. She does not only NOT understand "complex" law, she actually makes rulings based on things NOT in evidence, and completely rules against case law in a way that overturns decades of established principles. Notably, she does not understand the principle of res judicata. This is a terrible judge.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: MD6362
Rating:10.0

Comments:
In my trial she was professional, understanding, and fair. She didn't always rule for me but she didn't show any emotion or personal bias. Judge Ensor and Judge Purpura could learn from her on ways to a honorable judge! She is exactly what a judge should be like whether male or female.

Other

Comment #: MD5344
Rating:9.0

Comments:
Fair and compassionate

Litigant

Comment #: MD4634
Rating:2.0

Comments:
She may have a calm demeanor, but she has poor skills in understanding a case, and is prone to include things in an order that none of the litigants requested. She may not be the worst judge, but she certainly does not rise to the level of mediocre. She is obviously biased against men, and will bend over backwards to help women. The way the court rooms are arranged in Baltimore County allows many of the women court workers to make faces and show displeasure at litigants. This is a serious problem and this judge does not care to keep control of her workers and stop this kind of harassment. Overall she deserves a low rating.

Other

Comment #: MD3975
Rating:9.0

Comments:
She is fair but compassionate and realistic.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD3070
Rating:5.1

Comments:
If pleasantness made for legal scholarship, Balt. co. Litigants could be assured of justice that they can't get now. Always focused on settlement even in cases which cry out for a ruling.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: MD1726
Rating:2.8

Comments:
At times insulting when stating a ruling in open court, seems to have an attitude when ruling, rather than humility. Poor understanding of complex matters.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: MD465
Rating:3.4

Comments:
Very poor understanding of complex civil matters. Not at all a good judge to be in front of when the law is complicated.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: MD173
Rating:9.6

Comments:
Judge Ballou-Watts is the epitome of judicial temperament. That said, I wish that she were easier on the clients at sentencing.