Raner Christercunean Collins
How Judge Collins rules, drawn from 12 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Collins
Raner Christercunean Collins is a senior judge of the United States District Court for the District of Arizona. President Bill Clinton appointed him, and he received his commission on August 3, 1998. He served as the court’s chief judge from 2013 to 2018 and took senior status in 2019.
Judge Collins's practices and standing orders
Rules for cases before Judge Collins, as published on the court's website (checked October 8, 2026). Judges revise these often, so confirm the current version on the court's site before you file.
Key rules
Discovery
If a discovery dispute remains unresolved after meeting, notify the judge’s law clerk by telephone.
“If a discovery dispute arises which cannot be resolved by the parties, the parties shall notify the Judge’s Law Clerk by telephone at (520) 205-4540.”
Conferences
Submit a brief joint settlement status report by the date set in the case management order and every 90 days afterward.
“Counsel shall submit to the Court a brief Joint Settlement Status Report on or before *DATE* and every 90 days thereafter.”
Standing orders for every case in this court
Orders the court applies to all of its cases, whichever judge has them, as published on the court's website (checked October 8, 2026).
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Defendant Susan Johnson’s Motion to Dismiss is GRANTED.”
“Plaintiff’s Motion to File Second Amended Complaint is DENIED.”
“Defendant MCCCD's Motion to Dismiss is GRANTED.”
“Plaintiff's Motion to Extend Time for Seeking Leave to Move to Join Additional Parties or to Amend Pleadings is DENIED.”
“Plaintiff's Motion for Order Compelling Discovery is DENIED AS MOOT.”
“Plaintiff's Motion for Sanctions in Deterring Future Misconduct and the Denial of Disclosure and Discovery by Opposing Counsel is DENIED.”
“Plaintiff's Motion for Sanctions from Inadequate Response to Interrogatories is DENIED.”
“Plaintiff's Motion for Determination of Sufficiency of Defendant Perko's Response to Plaintiff's Request for Admissions is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.”
“Plaintiff's Motion for Appointment of Pro Bono Counsel to Assist with the Limited-Purpose of Discovery is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.”
“Defendant's Motion to Amend or Correct Answer to Amended Complaint is GRANTED.”
“Plaintiff’s Motion for Leave to Depose Witnesses is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART.”
“Plaintiff’s Motion to Extend Time to Disclose Witness List is GRANTED.”
“Plaintiff’s Motion for Leave to Undertake Officer Escalera’s Deposition via Written Questions is GRANTED.”
“Plaintiff’s Motion of Plaintiff’s Avoidal [sic] in Disclosure of Witness List to Opposing Counsel via Mailbox Rule is DENIED AS MOOT.”
“Plaintiff’s Motion to Enlarge Time for Completion of Discovery is GRANTED.”
“Defendant’s Motion to Stay the Proceedings and Deadlines Set in Scheduling Order is DENIED.”
“Plaintiff’s Motion for Temporary Restraining Order is DENIED. (Doc. 7.)”
“Plaintiff’s Demand to Vacate Order of Dismissal and Enter Summary Judgment is DENIED. (Doc. 8.)”
“Plaintiff Alexander Johnson's Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis is GRANTED. (Doc. 2.)”
“Plaintiff's Motion to Set Aside Judgment under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b)(6) is DENIED. (Doc. 11.)”
“GRANTING Petitioner's Motion to Reply to Respondents' Response to the Petitioner's Objections to the Magistrate's Report and Recommendation. (Doc. 29.)”
“DENYING Respondents' Motion to Strike ‘Petitioner's Addendum to his Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus. (Doc. 20.)”
“Petitioner Gregory Nidez Valencia, Jr.'s Petition Under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 for a Writ of Habeas Corpus by a Person in State Custody (Non-Death Penalty) is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. (Doc. 4.)”
“GRANTING Plaintiff’s Motion for Entry of Default Judgment (Doc. 13).”
“this Court GRANTS IN PART Plaintiff’s Motion for Award of Attorneys’ Fees and Costs Against All Defendants (Doc. 17)”
“Plaintiffs’ IFP applications are GRANTED.”
“The Administrative Law Judge’s final decision is AFFIRMED.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
The inspected 2019 civil matters included habeas, prisoner civil-rights, Social Security, environmental, and insurance disputes. The selection favors older closed cases.
Pending matters in the official report
Reported by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts under the Civil Justice Reform Act, as of March 31, 2026.
| Motions pending more than six months | 2 |
| Bench trials submitted more than six months | 0 |
| Bankruptcy appeals pending more than six months | 1 |
| Social Security appeals pending more than six months | 0 |
| Civil cases pending more than three years | 4 |
| Report | Motions over six months | Cases over three years |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 2026 | 2 | 4 |
| Sep 2025 | 3 | 4 |
| Mar 2025 | 2 | 6 |
| Sep 2024 | 0 | 3 |
| Mar 2024 | 3 | 3 |
| Sep 2023 | 0 | 4 |
| Mar 2023 | 0 | 1 |
| Sep 2022 | 1 | 4 |
| Mar 2022 | 0 | 4 |
| Sep 2021 | 2 | 7 |
| Mar 2021 | 1 | 4 |
| Sep 2020 | 1 | 4 |
A snapshot on that date: matters listed may since have been decided or reassigned. A motion referred to a magistrate judge is counted for both judges. Motions in multidistrict litigation, section 2255 cases and Social Security appeals are not counted, and a very large three-year count is generally a multidistrict docket. Source: Appendix A of the report (PDF); about the report.
How long civil cases take in this court
For the whole of United States District Court for the District of Arizona, not for Judge Collins: median time from filing to disposition of the civil cases the court closed in the 12 months ending September 30, 2025, as reported by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.
| Cases | Median time | |
|---|---|---|
| All civil cases closed | 2,485 | 6 months |
| Closed with no court action | 135 | 2.2 months |
| Closed before pretrial | 2,001 | 5.2 months |
| Closed during or after pretrial | 335 | 15.2 months |
| Closed during trial | 14 | 32.4 months |
| 12 months ending | Cases closed | Median time |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2025 | 2,485 | 6 months |
| Sep 2024 | 2,278 | 6.7 months |
| Sep 2023 | 2,126 | 8.3 months |
| Sep 2022 | 2,181 | 9.4 months |
| Sep 2021 | 3,857 | 20.9 months |
| Sep 2020 | 8,128 | 12.2 months |
| Sep 2019 | 2,842 | 9.6 months |
The table leaves out prisoner petitions, land condemnations, deportation reviews, recovery of overpayments and enforcement of judgments, and reports no median for fewer than 10 cases. A district that closed a large multidistrict litigation in the period shows very large counts and long medians for that year. Source: Table C-5, U.S. District Courts (spreadsheet).
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