Hon. Carlos Velategui See Rating Details
Commissioner
Superior Court
King County
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Attorney Average Rating:   5.1 - 18 rating(s)
Non-Attorney Average Rating:   1.0 - 19 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. Carlos Velategui


Comments


Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: WA2283
Rating:1.0
Comments:
My experience is that King County Probate court is a complete farce, and a RICO controlled by certain charlatans for self dealing. This commissioner Carlos is a joke, who signs off on anything his puppet masters asking him to.

Other

Comment #: WA2282
Rating:3.0
Comments:
it's bad in this court even the judges can't keep control of what's going on. for example, a judge appointed an attorney to be a guardian and ordered that the attorney guardian guardianship be assigned to a judge and forbids all court commissioners including Carlos and company from issuing any court orders regarding the guardianship because the whole exparte department is a conflict of interest, the problem is when the
judge issued the court order, the judge issued the order inside another court order and only Judges, GALS attorneys, clerks and fiduciary's would know of the court order because its hidden inside another court order, one day a family member was mad about Carlos issuing a court order in the case assigned to a judge and filed a motion for revision, since the family members were unaware of the court order the family members own attorney kept this a secret from them and they played it off as a motion for revision and assigned another judge when there was already a judge assigned, you see the judges are also in on it. I have witnessed with my eyes in this court a fiduciary and their attorney be ordered to appear for delinquency regarding there accounting and ordered to appear before a judge, I witnessed with my eyes the fiduciary attorney sitting behind the bench. Carlos is a problem, but the problem is a lot bigger than Carlos.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: WA2278
Rating:1.0
Comments:
This man should be in a nursing home, he is in advanced form of dementia and is running a complete mockery with zero regards to constitution or laws. He rules in favor of certain law firms ALWAYS and ONLY, no matter what the underlying facts.

Other

Comment #: WA2193
Rating:1.0
Comments:
In ex-parte court room W-325 Seattle, WA this law RCW 2.08.185 is not being policed; attorneys are serving as pro-Tem commissioners at the same time they are appointed as guardian ad litem in other cases. Carlos Velategui is the ring leader.

Other

Comment #: WA2192
Rating:1.0
Comments:
Keep this in mind when you are walking into court room W-325 Seattle, WA, it breaks into three rooms, room 1 is commissioner Henry Judson, room 2 is commissioner Bradford Moore and room 3 is pro-Tem commissioner Carlos Velategui. Attorneys and guardians are petitioning for a court order in room 1 and Judson denies them because they're not following the rules and the law, day 2 attorney's and guardians petition again for an order in room 2 with Bradford Moore and he also denies them because they're not following the rules and the law, day 3 the attorney's just walk in without petitioning into room 3 and Carlos signs the order. I also witnessed one day a professional guardian and their retained attorney be ordered to appear before Carlos regarding delinquency. when I walked in Carlos was not there that day and sitting in his spot was the guardian's attorney sitting behind the bench.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: WA2190
Rating:1.0
Comments:
How this man who should be institutionalized at a mental health center is still being allowed to wreck people's lives without the ability to read due to advanced dementia, as he himself admits, is beyond the wildest imagination and proof the King County Superior Court is a total joke.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: WA1966
Rating:10.0
Comments:
Commissioner Velategui is the best in King County. He is prepared and he sees through every ounce of BS that is put in front of him. He rules efficiently and fairly. If only we had more of him.

Litigant

Comment #: WA1903
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Mr. Carlos Velategui is violating the Washington State Constitution by acting as a commissioner beyond the statutory retirement age of 75 years old, further, he does not gain permission by both parties to enter orders as a pro tem commissioner. RCW 2.08.180(1) requires that the pro tem judge be agreed upon in writing by the parties litigant, and sworn to try the case. RCW 2.08.180(2) otherwise requires the pro tem judge to be “any sitting elected judge”.
LCMR7 (g) requires that commissioners shall retire at the same age at which state law requires judges to retire.
Under Washington State Constitution. art. IV, § 3(a) (amend. 25), judges have a mandatory retirement age of 75 years. Supreme Court Administrative Rule 21, (b) Qualifications: If a pro tempore justice is to be selected, the proposed selection shall be made in the manner set forth hereafter by the Chief Justice, or at the Chief Justice's option by the Clerk of the Court, from a list of active and retired court of appeals judges. The list shall be approved on an annual basis by a majority of the Court. All retired appellate judges will be included on the list, except those who prefer not to be on the list or who are… (3) over 75 years of age (the mandatory judicial retirement age in this state).

If you are before Carlos Velategui, please question his ability to rule on any case and his mental condition. He is sounding very crazy and mentally unsound in his rulings, hence, the reason why Washington State Citizens voted in the mandatory retirement age of 75 years old. Demand Velategui to go retire - he is an expired old crazy man!

Other

Comment #: WA1873
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
In this case number 17-4-02975-8sea, Washington State APS made a complaint with Washington State CPGB and the CPGB made this complaint in the Guardianship case where Sitting Commissioner Henry Judson ordered the Guardian to file a report on the issues raised in the complaint and set a court date. when the court date came for the court to review the issues it was not sitting commissioner Henry Judson who reviewed the issues but instead pro-tem Carlos Velategui, this person under guardianship also has court monitored supervised trust that was created when Carlos was a sitting commissioner. this case is a good reason why a Law should be passed giving More Washington state agencies Jurisdiction to investigate court monitored supervised trusts and guardianships. Like attorney's always say follow the money but when you try to follow the money that Carlos is monitoring and supervising your stopped by jurisdiction because Carlos is the only one that has the Jurisdiction.

Other

Comment #: WA1870
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
In the past I filed a complaint with the Washington State (CPGB) regarding a Trust and Guardianship accounting and the cases consolidated together that Carlos was Monitoring and supervising, the first letter I received from the CPGB told me the CPGB only has jurisdiction of the Guardianship accounting and can only investigate that and that they can not investigate the trust accounting because Carlos is monitoring and supervising the trust that pays the guardianship and attorney fees. we need a law passed giving Jurisdiction to more Washington state agencies such as DFI,DSHS, APS.

Other

Comment #: WA1869
Rating:1.0
Comments:
Washington state Certified Professional guardian Board (CPGB) has jurisdiction to investigate Court monitored supervised Guardianship accounting, a lot of persons who are under guardianship also have trusts that pay the fees of the guardians and these trusts are also court monitored and supervised by Carlos, there is no agency in Washington state to investigate these trusts Carlos is supervising because a RCW 30 law was passed that says Washington State Department of Financial institute (DFI) can not investigate court monitored trusts because Carlos is supervising them. A law needs to be passed Giving Washington State (DFI) Jurisdiction like CPGB Has. Washington State (CPGB) is the only agency in the State that has Jurisdiction in Court monitored supervised Guardianships, all other Washington State agency's such as DFI, DSHS, APS can not investigate court monitored because Carlos is supervising them.

Litigant

Comment #: WA1868
Rating:1.0
Comments:
Carlos Velategui should be removed as a judge. He's past his prime. He didn't read any of the paperwork for this hearing, and just agreed with everything the ad litem said even though all her arguments were based on opinion, not fact. He dismissed all the witnesses that had come to testify. He doesn't care about the truth. He just wants to sign the orders and move on to the next case. I was in shock after this hearing that so much injustice could be done in a court of law that's supposed to protect the innocent. He is a lazy judge. He did not prepare for the hearing (he admitted to skimming the documents just as the hearing was starting). Because he did not examine both sides of the evidence, the bad guy was rewarded; the good guy lost out. Bad bad judge. He needs to retire for good before he can do any more damage to people's lives.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: WA1772
Rating:2.6
Comments:
He is so protective of the guardianship industry that I wonder sometimes that he might be getting kickbacks. Has been known to issue prior restraint orders against complainants that clearly violate the first amendment.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: WA1738
Rating:1.0
Comments:
Carlos Velategui exceeds the 75 years of age, well over Washington State’s mandatory retirement age for judges. Carlos Velategui lost his marbles a long time ago, why is he back as a pro tem commissioner? He’s like sour milk, past the legal expiration date - You gotta toss that s—t out! Can someone take his keys to the courthouse? He’s too old to rule and has got to go! I sympathize with those whom he’s harmed, god bless you all.

Other

Comment #: WA1725
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
In this case number 19-2-00781-8knt going on right now, the king County prosecuting office says that when the defendant was a Ward of Carlos Velategui, ward of Tom O'Brien of GSS, Ward of the Court and Ward of the state of Washington, there Mental stability and recovery efforts to Manage Money and property were undermined while they were a Ward. The problem the defendant is having right now is not there fault, the problem was caused by defendant being a ward of the court.

Other

Comment #: WA1724
Rating:1.0
Comments:
Velategui sat there and watched a vulnerable adult being abused when the victim tried to reach out for help Velategui distracted the audience and then waited until the interested person was out of line of sight view of the window looking in the ex-parte hearing room before calling up his own motioned investigator, the only interest was the size of the estate. .The guillotine is to fast for this retired thief.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: WA1676
Rating:3.3
Comments:
Judge Velategui should be gone forever from jurisprudence --- King County or any jurisdiction within the U.S. He is belligerent, biased,not versed in Domestic Violence or cybercrime and willfully ugly and sinister towards females over fifty.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: WA1661
Rating:9.8
Comments:
I have observed Commr. Velategui's handling of hearing for over 20 years--as an attorney both on the side that prevailed and the side that did not. His rulings always were focused on what he believed was best for the child, fair for both parties, and the intent of the law. He's a stickler for rules and procedural fairness, has a no-nonsense approach in running his calendar, and can spot people trying to game the system. Truly one of the best commissioners King County ever hired. Thank you for your service, Commr. Velategui.

Other

Comment #: WA1451
Rating:1.0
Comments:
Didn't ask who I was, why I was there, if I had anything to say. When I asked a clarifying question he looked at the other party's attorney, gave them a condescending look, you know that look where you know they are thinking "Is this b**ch stupid?" I did not appreciate his "I'm on a pedestal" and have been rich/powerful for far too long mentality. He's not about the people. I expected to be treated with respect not aloofness. Last time I checked being poor and not having the means to afford representation does not equate to being dumb. And God forbid I ask a question he thinks is beneath him. How much money do you make? Enough to clarify and provide equal justice to all despite financial disparities. Seriously, he shouldn't be a Judge.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: WA1440
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Another thing I would like to say is King county is the only County in the State of Washington that has Two Superior courts One in Kent & One in Seattle, Beware of this if your VENUE is Kent & you are Involved In a Settlement Award, TRUST, Guardianship or probate Matter Do not Let your attorney or anyone move your VENUE to Seattle Regarding your Assets & Money Because Carlos & attorneys & Gals have a thing going on where there Funneling from One VENUE to the other.

Other

Comment #: WA1439
Rating:1.0
Comments:
I wish this Robbing room Site had attachments because the last comments on here about Carlos & Guardian ad litems is a complaint by itself. Carlos orders appointing GALS Lacks in the orders LGALR Rules 1-7 & Rcw 11.88 Laws appointing GALS. Its so Bad down there at the Kent & Seattle Superior court that a attorney can just walk in to a case & file a report as a GAL & Carlos will go with the GAL attorney recommendations & the court or Carlos never appointed the attorney to be a GAL in the case.

Litigant

Comment #: WA1438
Rating:1.0
Comments:
I am very saddened by the judicial system and this man is the reason. He is very rude and has a lack of patience and his presumptuousness character is a major flaw within his ability to understand the facts and make wise well thought rulings. Unless you have a lawyer that kisses his rear end, and you are a common uneducated in law citizen, he look down upon your ability to speak and shows no human compassion. He doesn't want to review the case of facts himself with regards to plaintiff complaints he relies solely on the testimony of the guardian ad litem testimony which is not always well established and researched matter regarding facts. The whole judicial system is at a lost as long as this man has power in our community. My case was regarding the welfare of an adult parent w/dementia in a nursing home neglect case. he did not review any of my complaints and they were very many and detailed. I am sickened by the man period.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: WA1406
Rating:10.0
Comments:
He is one of the judges in our judicial system that seems to really care about the welfare of children and the people that appear before him. He is always kind and very helpful. He will answer your questions and will listen to your arguments.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: WA1371
Rating:1.9
Comments:
Commissioner Velategui does what he pleases. The law doesn't matter. If he isn't lying for himself, he will lie for his favored lawyers. He will actually just start defending the lawyer and talking for him. (This has been observed for over 20 years.) He signs for his favored guardians/lawyers to engage in exploitation and abuse of vulnerable adults and then fines the family when they complain about excessive fees and abuse of their loved one.
There's no doubt about it. He is a crook. He is also just a commissioner, so you can petition the court to get a real judge and you may possibly have a chance then. A lot of the King county judges are being controlled or threatened by the guardianship/ probate court because it brings in a lot of extra income to those lawyers, judges and others officials involved in it, because of their senior exploitation racket.
Do not trust anyone in King county to help you. Adult Protective Services agents are owned by the abusive guardianship system and police quit investigations without a reason. Best you can do is get your elder out of King county ASAP.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: WA1334
Rating:10.0
Comments:
Valetegui is perhaps the finest judicial officer I have met. He handed me my ass once, when I deserved it, as I was new and didn't fully know what the hell I was doing! Ever since, I've appeared before him hundreds of times on civil, probate and guardianship matters. He is always prepared, well reasoned, and actually quite helpful. He knows the law and he is fast, efficient and if he rules against you, you likely deserve it. We need more like him.

Other

Comment #: WA1298
Rating:1.0
Comments:
I have been complaining for years then the judicial administration sends out notice regarding unauthorized use of Gr22 cover sheets and learn that in the court monitored trust and guardianship pro-temp were used to approve reports and accountings its just shocking.

Litigant

Comment #: WA1297
Rating:1.0
Comments:
Pompous, arrogant, and does not consider all of the evidence. Jumps to rash conclusions. Does not read all of the evidence. He should be disbarred!

Other

Comment #: WA1246
Rating:1.0
Comments:
Velatagui is helping abuse the elderly under guardianship. He will ignore exorbitant fees that in guardians charge (thousands to tens of thousands a month) and not picks at honest guardians who charge $300-$400 a month. It's more than obvious he is taking a cut out of the elderly's estate.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: WA1183
Rating:9.5
Comments:
I have appeared before Commissioner Valetegui numerous times over the past decade+. He is sharp and fair. I say this after his ruling against my client as often as for my client. I can only assume many of the below disgruntled individuals did not have the law on their side and are bitter -- i.e. "shoot the messenger".

Robert

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: WA1055
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
This man shames all notions of justice. He doesn't know the meaning of the word and/or he doesn't care.
A check of his public rulings (unless they are improperly sealed)
will reveal that he is emphatically pro-guardian and pro-guardian's attorney. He doesn't even make a slight effort to appear to try to be even-handed. The guardian and its attorney, knowing he is holding the bank door open, fill their unworthy pockets with the assets it has taken the AIP a lifetime of hard work and sacrifice to earn and save. Once those pockets are filled and the assets depleted, he will, at the guardian's and attorney's request, end the guardianship and send the penniless AIP back to the family the guardian has spent the entire term of the guardianship demonizing. He should be removed from the bench - removed from the practice of law. He belongs behind bars.

Other

Comment #: WA1053
Rating:1.0
Comments:
I watched this man walk into his court room, get off the bench and go into the main lobby of W 325 and yell at the top of his lungs for the crowded room to be quiet. He simply could have closed the door. I have witnessed his emotional outbursts too many times to count. He complicated a case today that should not have had an added complication. He was sarcastic with the women in front of him and deferential the male attorney who was very inexperienced in a very specialized area of the law. Steer clear at all costs, if you are female and know your stuff. He will find a way to rule against you.

Other

Comment #: WA964
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
I witnessed Carlos in a civil action take a homeless person settlement award and all there property down to the last penny and place it into a special needs trust and appoint guardianship services of Seattle (GSS) to manage this trust and also appoint GSS as guardian of person and estate. How can a guardian provide shelter food and clothing for this homeless person when everything they have in the world is in a special needs trust that can not provide shelter food and clothing. With this picture the settlement award in cash $868,000 all gone in two years. the trust guardianship terminated and the person left homeless on the street and to this day they were never recognized by SSI with a disability.

Civil Litigation - Govt.

Comment #: WA913
Rating:2.0
Comments:
Poor excuse for a Commissioner good ol' boy agrees with any attorney that jokes around with him. He caused my elderly mothers home to be taken from her, now she sits in an adult family home a house that she worked all her life for. He does not read the information that is before him and rubber stamps anything a knowledgeable attorney that can sway him to see things their way. Easily fooled.

Other

Comment #: WA886
Rating:1.0
Comments:
We haven't had much expiriencd in a court room or with the law, but there's just something terribly wrong with a person who violently and graphically threatens to put one of the best fathers I know in jail, in front of his three children, for buying them a house after their mother died. And what would happen to these children? Is that really the purpose of a guardian ad litem? To see to it that rules and laws be enforced to our children's detriment? What kind of system, what interest is that system invested in? This man sickens me.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: WA700
Rating:2.7
Comments:
Cons: Condescending to all parties and lacks fundamental understanding of some areas of the law that he presides over. Often ignores precedent and statutes in favor of his personal idea of justice.

Pros: Tries hard to come up with a fair result without further litigation, but will often ignore the law in order to get to that result.

Other

Comment #: WA695
Rating:1.0
Comments:
This judge is incompetent and lacking in knowledge of RCW; he seemed predisposed to favor minority litigants who game the system. He throws temper tantrums in court. Avoid him like the plague.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: WA677
Rating:9.8
Comments:
This judge is highly respected by the bar.

Other

Comment #: WA672
Rating:1.0
Comments:
He ignores evidence. He sealed the file when there was proven misconduct on the part of the guardianship attorney. He ignores judicial rules in favor of the guardianship firm.

Litigant

Comment #: WA554
Rating:1.0
Comments:
Awful. Quoted hospital records that had not been placed into evidence yet. Agreed to TRO app that was wrong from start to finish, from the last name to the one-sided character attack. (None of which was true.) Highly deferential to men, esp. male lawyers. An embarrassment. F-.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: WA375
Rating:1.8
Comments:
This commissioner seemed to have determined the outcome before hearing attorney's arguments, declined to allow witnesses to speak ("too much court time needed"), and generally seemed petulent and moody. Avoid his court.

Litigant

Comment #: WA363
Rating:1.0
Comments:
I believe that judge has participated in human rights violations. He has participated in the annulment of a person's marriage against their will and in the placement of no contact orders between friends against their will. Because of this he is a threat to the Constitution. He has temper tantrums in court. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViQmmp59gfE&feature=relmfu

Other

Comment #: WA262
Rating:1.0
Comments:
Velategui seems to have personal emotional problems that extendend into his work. I'd recomend avoiding him. His rulings are likely to be unpredicable, and have little or no relationship to the law.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: WA61
Rating:6.6
Comments:
Judge Velategui is really a nice guy. He will listen to your case. Knowledgeable after all these years as a Commissioner. In a recent case I had he gave a very thoughtful, reasoned decision.