Raymond J. Dearie

When Judge Dearie rules against your client, at least you understand why, if you agree with his decision or not. He is even-handed in keeping both sides in line, and he will warn you if you push him up against his norms of trial practice. Once he has you in control, he's pleasant to work with. I won a big retrial and lost a modest retrial before him. I made my objections, but I sensed, in the case I lost, that he felt - because he was - boxed in. He let counsel try the case as they would like, but tightened the standard of proof for my client in the first trial she won, and her loss was pre-determined. In the trial I won, it was smooth sailing because it was a damages only trial. He made some rulings I and my client didn't like, but we ended up with a complete success. His clerks are diligent and his Deputy is most certainly in control.

This judge is highly biased! He favors the wealthy, and refuses to listen to reason.

WONDERFUL judge and person. One of my favorite judges of all time.

Judge Dearie is compassionate, scholarly, extremely able and invariably courteous to everyone who appears before him,whether scholar or scoundrel. A true gentleman jurist who is the epitome of the fair and evenhanded judge, who prioritizes the fair administration of justice over the expedient result. Tops in his field.

Judge Dearie is thoughtful and fair. He is a real human being, who cares deeply about doing the right thing. As a former prosecutor he often needs to be nudged in the direction of a criminal defendant; however, he listens, keeps an open mind and rarely assumes the worst. A pleasure to work before him and a great trial judge

Don't expect to win a Rule 29 -- however, he lets you try your case like no other judge in the building. Great guy with a great demeanor and sense of humor. I'd be happy to try all of my cases in front of him.

One of the nicest and most decent judges in the country. Too slow at decision-making before trial, but the best in the business during trial.

Very nice and fair judge

Judge Dearie has one of the worst records for timely decision-making in the entire country. He took 17 months to decide a summary judgment motion, Then he ruled on grounds that no party had even suggested and which were totally concocted. Why not let the parties brief it if there was clearly no hurry. Another time, he took 14 months, and then issued a decision that was a couple of paragraphs long. Dearie writes almost no opinions. And he does not seem to have much of a trial schedule either. It's as if he had retired and not told anyone. Dearie was very protective of the government in a civil case. At the end of the case he manipulated his rulings (and without citing any legal authority) to force a settlement. Dearie is a true gentleman and very pleasant. But he needs to do his job. Perhaps he is a good example of the dangers of naming a 40-year-old to a life-tenured position. The judge is now around 60, but he has checked out.

A good and decent judge.

Can bend when gov't bring pressure, but he did make support the prosecuters who complained when Attorney General John Ashcroft continually overruled them and directs that they seek capital punishment in criminal cases.

Slow at making decisions.

A fair and reasonable judge without ego problems. Great sense of humor. No games, no agenda, calls it like he sees it.

Very smart and with it.

One of the most pleasant federal judges. Despite pro-government leanings, a fair sentencer. Why can't he ever make up his mind ?

Tried a death penalty case before him and he bent over backwards to be fair. A very good person and a credit to the bench.

Overall, an excellent judge and a very decent person. Gives everyone an opportunity to be heard and takes pains to be fair. Has a tendency, however, to put things off and to promise opinions that aren't forthcoming.