David O. Carter

Bad civil matter draw in anything other than very simple matters. Condescends and bullies to mask his lack of interest and understanding of complex issues. While he keeps long hours, he wastes time on minutiae and speeches about how hard he works. A living argument against life tenure.

~Judge Carter has some odd ways of handling matters. For example, he threatened to deny my motion for summary judgment because I was allegedly speaking too fast. He once made a partner drive from Orange County to San Diego to get a document (while the judge waited). At times, he is almost like a shock jock. If you ignore those idiosyncrasies, then he is a decent judge. I wouldn't want him again, but I wouldn't cringe if he were assigned. For there are far worse judges in the Central District.

Enjoys and employs bullying to disguise intellectual deficiencies, has little interest in or ability to address complicated civil matters. Delights in pointless 24 hour deadline scheduling, wastes time of parties and counsel. Contrary to some observations below, was often unprepared for motion argument. His industriousness is actually a problem - when someone frequently gets it wrong, one should hope that they do it less. . .

Can't say how Judge Carter is on the federal bench but I appeared in front of him when he was in State Court in Orange County Westcourt. Was doing a motion for a new trial in a criminal case. He denied the motion but was generous with my client giving him summary probation.

Obnoxious when it comes to Rule 26 scheduling conferences, and making new orders and changes at the last minute and demanding the parties, counsel and representatives with authority to settle show up on the lawn outside the courthouse, knowing it is an extreme hardship to make this request with less than 24 hours notice. This is not justice, it is judicial savagery at its worst. And what is is worse, is that the Presiding Judge in the Court does nothing about it. 0 stars.

He needs to retire. Way past his prime. Now just an egomaniac jerk-on-the-bench who seems to dislike lawyers, and appears to take perverse pride in making things way harder than they need to be (at least he seems unbiased in his dislike). Got removed from a major case because of his biased and limelight-seeking conduct and remarks.

Judge Carter is unethical, eccentric and vicious. If you believe Judge Carter is compassionate he isn't; he is self-serving and could care less about the poor as he is commonly referred to. I watched him rip apart attorneys and it was embarrassing. When it came to my case he completely applied the wrong law, misread it and completely smiled while he destroyed me.