Timothy R. Volkmann

Makes up his mind before trial even starts. Obviously looking for clients in his new role as a JAMS as a mediator

Timmy retires on May 1, 2024. His last day was March 29th. I am very happy this foul stain on the judiciary is gone. If you were ever in his courtroom, you know he is a child in a man's body. He was unfit to serve on the bench.

TWO WORDS. UTTERLY DISGRACEFUL.

CORRECTION! MY COMMENT IS DIRECTED TO CA53007. CA53033 IS SPOT ON!! HEY CA53007. AS OUTDATED & YET NOVEL AS IT MIGHT BE, I AM STILL KINDA A FAN OF EVIDENCE. SPEAK UP. WHAT'S THE CASE # OF THIS "COMPLEX CASE"? ALLOW US TO SEE HOW TIMOTHY V SHINES. COUTROOM DEMEANOR? NARCISSISTS ARE THE BEST SHOWMEN,ESPECIALLY IN A COURTROOM WHEN THEY ARE THE CENTER OF FOCUS & GRABBING ALL THE ATTENTION.

The reviews of this judge is a serious subject, as another has already said Santa Cruz Community has a problem it being this judge. The previous review clearly was drafted by this judge himself. The truth usually hurts when it’s negative about a negative person. I think it’s important to point out many of the reviews are from individuals who just observed the judge and had no dog in the fight, this being the opposite of what the judge clams in that sorry cry for help positive review he wrote. Hopefully some citizens will start a petition to remove this terrible stain on Santa Cruzs reputation.

I have observed this judge presiding over a very complex civil case. I am so impressed with his courtroom demeanor, fairness to both sides, and clarity explaining his every decision during the lengthy trial. I do not know the outcome but I trust him completely. The people complaining about him clearly lost cases. I have always been an excellent judge of character. I do not believe their rants for a moment.

I believe after reading the comments and hearing friends tell me about this judge, that a petition to have him removed permanently from the bench is needed. you only need 35 signatures from registered voters in the area to remove a judge. I've witnessed this twice here in CA. this judge needs to be removed and away from his cronies and severe prejudicial rulings.

THE WORST, SHOULD BE REMOVED. I HAVE LOOKED OVER THE VAST NUMBER OF CRITICAL REVIEWS HERE, AND THEY ARE ALL CORRECT, THIS JUDGE IS A BLOT ON SANTA CRUZ COUNTY.

This Judge is just terrible. With undisputable facts he sides with his cronies. Tells you his ruling before he hears the facts. Facts are what his decision should be based. Not with this smug,out of touch Judge. If he is your Judge try to have your case rescheduled. Please challenge him and get him removed.

This judge is simply TERRIBLE ! All these reviews say it all about is abuse of a position of authority! My gosh, you would think he would take a long hard look into his actions and make some changes, he must be reading these reviews.

Clearly plaintiff oriented. Never reads the papers. Tentative rulings are worthless garbage. He never changes his mind at oral argument. His rulings are so wrong they hurt the soul. Challenge him!

To the 30-year Santa Cruz attorney, who gave Tim V. an A+, 10-star rating (see comments of August 22, 2023) and who reduced all the people who posted negative comments as disgruntled litigants who lost their case: You have found favor with Tim V. The next time you are in his courtroom, and you file a motion, insert into your memorandum that the grounds or authority for your motion is: "Mary had a little lamb whose fleece was white as snow. And everywhere that Mary went, the lamb was sure to go." It doesn't matter what kind of motion or application or oppsition you submit. You will see, in his tentative ruling, which will be in your favor, that he will copy and paste the nursery rhyme into his support for you as the prevailing party. In Tim V.'s courtroom it is about people, personalities and favoritism, which he has bestowed upon you. The facts and the law are bent, contorted, ignored or manipulated to fit his predetermined outcome.

Sat in the courtroom as this judge amazed almost all present with his bold and bizarre rulings. The only ones present that did not seem alarmed was the bailiff and court staff. The judge should not be in the honorable position he is titled with, should be where he would be harmless to others.

I just read the prior positive review of this poor excuse for a judge. It’s very sad, very sad that the attorney who wrote the review has demonstrated their compromised ethics. That author is well aware that it’s common knowledge that this judge does not belong on any bench, well maybe a park bench. I wonder why the judge does not get the hint that the public is on to him and start to change his ways, redemption is not too late. The judge is aware of his reviews and is moved not in a direction of correcting his ways, but asking his staff and attorneys friends to write positive reviews. I’m sure we will see in the future like the two recently, ingenious flowery fake reviews. SAD SAD

I'm a 30+ year attorney, all of them in Santa Cruz County. Tim Volkmann was an A+ attorney, and Judge Volkmann is an A+ judge (the best of our 16 judges in Santa Cruz - there's other very good judges, but Judge Volkmann is the best of all). There's only 2 judges assigned to Civil and Probate at a time, and judges cycle in and out of Civil every few years. Civil court is always best when Judge Volkmann is there. He is a talented settlement (judicial mediation) judge, having been a civil attorney and mediator during his pre-judge career. He operates his courtroom with respect to all. In civil law and motion, you don't always win (no one does), but when on the losing end, the decisions are well reasoned even if you're disappointed in the result. Another commenter stated Judge Volkmann belongs on the Court of Appeal - that's true, he's very talented. For selfish reasons I hope Judge Volkmann remains in Santa Cruz Court because our local court is best when he's on it; but if he's elevated to Court of Appeals I'll celebrate it. I stumbled on this website when doing internet search for a different (non-Santa Cruz) judge. The low reviews are wrong; reading them, I conclude they're retribution (bitterness) for having lost in Judge Volkmann's courtroom. Hopefully this accurate review raises Judge Volkmann's batting average on this website (though doubtful he cares about his batting average).

This man is a bully. Takes advantage of the fact that he is in a position of power to strike down on people who are disabled. He is a terrible judge and I never realized that a judge could tell someone that they had no rights. Good thing he is almost done serving his time because a person like this should not be in this type of position. He seemed to enjoy knowing that he had all the power and could tell me that I had no rights…. Until this day hearing that from a person of his status is a scary thing. He said this to someone who was disabled and simply happen to be getting evicted. He’s a terrible man terrible!!!!

My gosh this man is scary, I don’t understand how someone like this is able to achieve this position! I spent a couple of afternoons in the courtroom and personally viewed his job performance, scary.

I was a witness for a plaintiff in this judges court room, and I might add, the plaintiff won the case. BUT I saw firsthand how this terrible individual who calls himself a judge operates. No regard or respect for anyone in the courtroom and uses his strange bias to control the courts outcome. He smiles and seems at first like a civil nice individual, then he turns like a flash into a dark dangerous beast. I felt sorry for the defendant who received less than justice.

Santa Cruz you got a big problem, and it’s this man! I can not believe an individual like this is a judge, I sat in this court room for a day working a story on the Judicial in Santa Cruz, and I came away deeply disturbed after witnessing his actions, very disturbing!

I was in front of this man as a plaintiff, and I won my case, BUT in the way he handled the defendant it was horrible, it made me want to ask fir a reversal of my case win. No equity or justice with this man. He should not be sitting in a position to effect people’s lives.