David M. Lawson

Man the federal district bench is really stinking up the house lately. Wooo eeee. These are people so unlikeable and so unattractive that they couldn't be elected dog catchers.

This man is one of the most arrogant, mercurial and cruel judicial officers I have ever had to appear before. Extremely insecure and disrespectful of experienced trial lawyers. Many commenters opine that this man is brilliant; however, this judge could not be as smart as he believes himself to be. Unable to efficiently preside over a complex criminal case.

I agree that Judge Lawson is perhaps the smartest judge I have appeared before. But unlike the other commenting attorney, I do not find him to at all be arrogant about it. I find him to be very fair, to have a healthy regard for the jury's role in civil litigation, and to be extremely creative in resolving problems.

I have had both criminal and civil matters in front of him and I agree he is without question one of the smartest if not the smartest judge I have ever been in front of. He also recognizes how smart he is and that's the problem. He is a poor listener unless you received a parochial education (catholic) that's to his liking, his temperment is terrible, and he is a generally miserable human being. I suspect that a potted plant could acheive the same or better results in front of him than what I have been able to accomplish. The civil defense bar recognizes the relationships that he has developed with it's senior members while in private practice (Clark Hill) and that he will not hold them accountable for illegal or unethical behavior. Plea hearings and the construction of Rule 11 agreements are frustrating if not impossible and you cannot move from behind the podium during trial. If I had to choose between going to the dentist for a root canal and appearing before this man I would choose without question the root canal. The civility principles of the Eastern District apparently do not apply to him or attorneys he has scholastic history with.

Judge Lawson is a very smart, no-nonsense judge, but with a very even temperament. He plays by the book and is a stickler for compliance with procedural rules. He gets to the heart of an issue quickly and accurately. He comes prepared for argument and will challenge counsel in oral argument. Be prepared.

Definitely one of the smartest judges on the bench.