Legal Knowledge: Family court is a disgusting vile place that benefits no one but the court officials, cps, gal's, therapist, lawyers and "specialist"
Fairness & Impartiality: The courts are stacked against families. This judge could do better questioning the court appointed officials. There is obvious bias in these courts as these people work together on a daily basis. Question gal's more to be sure they are doing their jobs and not just repeating reports handed to them.
Judicial Temperament: Very little patience for individuals that do not understand proceedings, court decorum or legalese.
Communication: Needs to look at the person in front of them and state her ruling, lawyers lie and do not always make sure their client understands what they are agreeing to. Its everyones place to make sure no one gets taken advantage of or steamrolled.
Timeliness: The family court is notorious for dragging cases for months on end. That leads to everyone in the court making more money and absolutely bankrupting the public. It should never be ok to keep children from their family because someone didn't file something or get a report turned in on time. This judge could do better getting these cases closed and holding lawyers, cps, gal's ect accountable.
★★★★★Verified attorney
DNA, custody
★★★★★Anonymous reviewer
Judicial Temperament: Judge Cheesman is very respectful and exceedingly patient and gives a long rope, but also is firm when the boundaries are pushed too far to rein people (usually litigants) back in without being harsh or rude. The latter is an important skill to me for her to run an efficient docket and ensure people follow necessary orders. She has one of the best judicial temperaments I’ve seen in over a decade of practice.
Fairness & Impartiality: Judge Cheeseman makes no difference between attorneys she’s known for years, new attorneys, or litigants. The demeanor is automatically kindness and respect, until she is met with (repeated) disrespect and must then have a firmer hand, but I have never seen her be unkind or rude or shows any favoritism in situations I’ve seen other judges become so.
Timeliness: she is very aware of the time and runs a very efficient docket. She was a litigator in practice and it shows that she has a firm understanding of all the movements in a case, not just from the bench.