Sim Lake

There is no doubt that Lake was previously a quality judge ten or fifteen years ago. Now, however, he is simply lazy and makes decisions based on personal bias. It is clear that he does not care about the cases on his docket and cares even less about the parties before him. Lake often takes the easy way out, which has become increasingly evident in his opinions.

Judge Lake, this is a heinous decision and I believe it will follow you without mercy. The same mercy you have shown to animals who are tortured and abused. These people who committed these crimes should be prosecuted and punished to the maximum degree possible. I'm sure you are aware that people who abuse people start by abusing animals. Then where will your conscience be?

This is a complete disgrace and a perfect example of why animal cruelty perpetrators receive a simple slap on the hand rather than the punishment(s) they could and should receive. I disagree with another comment that politics have anything to do with his ruling. Perhaps he doesn't like animals and thinks they have no value - no matter that they are a living, breathing creature. He needs to re-read the entire Constitution - not just the First Amendment. He should be ashamed of himself.

I would like to know what the legal reasoning is behind Judge Sims' First Amendment protections considerations in the animal crush case. Am I to understand the animal cruelty is protected by the Constitution? What kind of position did Mr. Lake have to twist himself into to come to THAT conclusion? "Honorable" Sim Lake? After the Enron debacle and now this, "Disgraceful" is a better description. Is it possible that Mr. Lake, a Reagan appointee, just wanted to stick it to the Obama administration? Because the legal "reasoning" (if any exists) doesn't pass the smell test. Absolutely disgraceful. D-I-S-G-R-A-C-E-F-U-L.

He was a disgrace back in Enron, and he is more of a disgrace to humankind after his Animal Crush decision. Truly an evil decision by someone educated enough to know better.

His interpretation of the first amendment is twisted. He should be ashamed to have thrown out the case against Ashley Nicole Richards and Brent Justice for making crush videos. The constitution was not created to allow cruelty by sick people. He should resign.

Any person who is in a position to "judge" and allows people to film the harming of animals for pleasure has no place upholding "justice". Is this civilisation?

Smart enough to fabricate opinion. If has no answer he will avoid the question. Avoid facts and evidence if it does not agree with his ruling.

He's not the judge he once was...and it's obvious.

Judge Lake is a good guy and is a very good judge. He is very fair, and is very prepared. If you are prepared, you will do well.

He is a smart, hard working, no nonsense judge, and expects the same from counsel. If I had to pick a judge for trial, whether I was the plaintiff or the defendant, I would want him. I have never seen a better trial judge. He understands what it is like to try a case, and what he needs to do as a trial judge. He will allow you some room if he senses that you are prepared and know what you are doing. He is not so generous with those who are not thoroughly prepared. It does not matter if he knows you, or what side of the docket you are on. His only bias is in favor of the smart, diligent, and prepared lawyer.

Very smart and very hard worker, but tends to doubt that the lawyers before him are also smart and hardworking -- he's usually right but not always. Too inflexible about scheduling; this apparently arises out of a prejudice that lawyers are trying to dally and earn more fees. Not mellowing with age.

This judge simply ducks hard issues. He seems fair, superficially - but allows the case to slip by without ruling on close matters unless backed up against a wall.

I appeared before Judge Lake in a death penalty habeas case. He wrote a very conservative order which simply pushed the case through to the next level.

Decent judge.