Michael B. Betar

He is a hardcore bully who doesn't seem to read courtesy copies even if you bring them a week or two ahead of your hearing. His behavior is just downright outlandish. He will not let you talk for 20 seconds. He will keep interrupting you when you try to explain the procedural history. He started screaming at me for not answering a complain when he had just vacated the judgment against my client. He is really problematic and imho should not be on the bench at all because he really doesn't even try to understand the cases. He will scream at you and threaten you with contempt for trying to advocate for your client. I suggest everybody report him as his behavior goes beyond being funny at this point. He always bullies pro se litigants, attorneys he is not familiar with, and even was making fun of a 20 year old guy continuously asking him if he was a minor. He always asks me if I am a real attorney too.

Unbelievable truly how caustic, arrogant, ill tempered, and disrespectful this judge is! In 20 years of practice I have never been before a judge so ill tempered and disrespectful as well as unprofessional. This judge is arrogant and just plain rude most of the day to parties, litigants, and lawyers.

Easily one of the worst behaved and intellectually vacant Judges that I've appeared before. I agree with the other ratings on here that Betar is a bully that can't adequately control himself on the bench. At no time did I or my client get the feeling either that Judge Betar had an adequate intellectual grasp of the issues in our case, courtroom procedure or anything else for that matter. He is a great example of someone who couldn't hack it in private practice, but had enough friends to get himself appointed to the bench. He should NEVER be retained. Let him take his Clown Act to the voters and see what happens.

AWFUL temperament and either zero knowledge of the law, or knowingly fails to follow the law. Echoing the other commenter here, he is a bully and an embarrassment to the bench. Shame on you Lake County

One of the worst Judges I've appeared before in my 40 year career. Horrible judicial temperament - a real bully. [Redacted by Ed.] The County should get rid of him and get a qualified and well-tempered Judge in his place. In my case, he decided who was going to win before he heard one bit of evidence, and pressured me to settle the case months before trial, threatening sanctions. A complete disgrace of a Judge.