"The Robing Room: WA State Judges

Hon. Mark L. Gelman	See Rating Details
Commissioner Superior Court
Pierce County	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 2.6 - 2 rating(s) Non-Attorney Average Rating: 2.0 - 9 rating(s)	Please send me alerts on this judge E-mail Address:

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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. Mark L. Gelman

Comments

Other

Comment #: WA2328
Rating:10.0

Comments:
At this point in a custody case I am involved in, this has been the ONLY commissioner that has actually read what has been submitted. This commissioner knows a manipulator and calls it out. I believe when he heard part of my case, he did act 100% in the best interest of the child. Other Pierce County Commissioners and the Judge have spoon fed the birth mother and put her interests above the child. I believe he would make a great Judge and if I could change the judge I have now, I would 100% be honored to have Commissioner Gelman reside.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: WA2319
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Commissioner German is horrible. He is full of ego and does not care at all about facts or children. He’s is pompous and rude. The most unfair commissioner ever and should never be a judge. He is causing a lot of pain

Litigant

Comment #: WA2265
Rating:2.0

Comments:
Commissioner Gelman holds an extremely high opinion of himself, which is wholly undeserved.
Gelman claims to be thorough and well prepared, however, he will then proceed to be incorrect on 70-80 percent of the facts (and when I say facts I’m talking about issues that both parties would agree on, not contested issues).
If you are appearing before commissioner Gelman, expect to be treated contemptuously, regardless of who you are. Commissioner Gelman seems to have a particular dislike for pro se litigants. Viewing pro se litigants as being privileged to represent themselves, rather than comprehending that most, if not all, pro se litigants represent themselves out of financial necessity.
If commissioner Gelman’s unsubstantiated and likely incorrect opinion is favorable to you, you shall likely be pleased with the outcome. If not, you shall likely be outraged. Either way Justice was likely unserved and Gelman’s ineptitude, paternalism, and over esteem for his skills and abilities shall leave you wondering how he got to the position he currently holds. Clearly he did not get there upon the basis of competence.

Litigant

Comment #: WA2089
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Issues a DVPO on vulgar text messages that were sent months ago. Oh I’m sorry I called my ex wife a wh*** but when you find out after 11 years two kids that your ex was banging anything that moves you might get emotionally charged but NO WHERE in the RCW or the marriage of Stewart case he used to issue the DVPO does it state that being mean with hurtful words raises to the level of DV to issue a emergency order removing me from my house taking my kids my guns my car my security clearance my job… honestly this whole system is a giant scam if your spouse says they want a divorce go get your phone call the police and say your spouse just pointed a loaded gun at you and you want them arrested or wait for the sheriff to kick you out of your house

Other

Comment #: WA1490
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Gelman thrives off degrading people. He must have a miserable home life. Total piece of s---. I sat through multiple cases in his office and nearly every person was ridiculed and made to feel bad. If he ever goes for his judgeship I will most definitely take time from work to picket against his higher than mighty a--. He has no interest in facts. Whatever he says is fact. Nothing else matters.

Litigant

Comment #: WA1489
Rating:1.0

Comments:
My attorney told Gelman that paperwork was turned in late because of his actions and it was not my fault in any way. I have the audio of the hearing. He tells Gelman this, but Gelman still sticks me with a $750 sanction. My wife's attorney uses this later to hurt my credibility at trial, because I never paid it, because my lawyer said he would. He never did, until during the trial, but not until my ex-wife's attorney hammered me over this issue. When I was on the stand, I told her lawyer that we need to get the record of the hearing to prove that my lawyer was suppose to pay the 750, she said "I have no further questions". Talk about a crooked system. Gelman's stupid order is to blame. I am filing a bar complaint against her lawyer, as well.

Other

Comment #: WA1425
Rating:1.0

Comments:
He is a horable person and will not help children. He will act as if no proof was provided when proof is right in his face. He does not care and will not do his job what so ever.

Other

Comment #: WA1424
Rating:1.0

Comments:
He is a horable person and will not help children. He will act as if no proof was provided when proof is right in his face. He does not care and will not do his job what so ever.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: WA1399
Rating:2.4

Comments:
Read comments

Other

Comment #: WA1398
Rating:1.0

Comments:
[Redacted by Ed.]
Pathological egoist and demeans others by saying he is "a fact finder" and much more thorough than anyone else. Despite any evidence, he accused a victim of domestic violence as being a perpetrator too! Apparently motivated to impress everyone with his familiarity with case law and suggested the "newest commissioner" may have come to a decision he would not have.
His arrogance and hubris has resulted in ongoing potential for harm to a child.
He communicates as though he is the smartest person in the room and demeans others including counsel. As the parent of someone accused of being a covert violent person by him without a modicum of evidence, I was enraged by his abuse of power. I pray nothing further happens to my grandchild at the hands of an addict before justice is actually done. He judged against a Hispanic mother while refusing to amend the parenting plan of two Caucasian parents!

Other

Comment #: WA774
Rating:1.0

Comments:
unprofessional, abuses discretion, disregards case law, filed documents, insults lawyers, respondents,