Cynthia Valenzuela Dixon
How Judge Dixon rules, drawn from 18 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
How Judge Dixon decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Procedural preferences
The court accepts a magistrate judge's report and recommendation when its review supports the recommended dismissal.
“ORDER ACCEPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE by Judge Cynthia Valenzuela 86, 58 IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Defendants' Motion to Dismiss is granted and this matter is dismissed with prejudice.”
An amended complaint supersedes the original pleading and can make motions directed at the original complaint moot.
“Since the FAC supersedes the original complaint, Defendants will have an opportunity to file a new responsive motion or pleading.”
In immigration-detention cases, emergency relief has required prompt notice and an opportunity to respond while preserving the court's jurisdiction.
“Respondents are enjoined from continuing to detain Petitioner unless he is provided with notice of the reason of his revocation and an informal interview to afford him an opportunity to be heard as to the revocation”
Once the ordered interview occurred, the court declined to add timing and content requirements unsupported by cited authority.
“the Court has not seen any authority for the proposition that the notice must be issued some specified amount of time in advance of the interview. The Court declines to impose such a requirement here.”
Cautions
A summary-judgment win can end the action with prejudice when the record supports judgment for the defendant.
“Pursuant to the Order Granting Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment 71, IT IS ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that judgment is hereby entered in favor of defendant General Motors LLC, and the action is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.”
In an expressive-work trademark dispute, the court applied the Rogers framework and dismissed the federal and state claims after finding that the challenged use did not identify the source of the television series.
“In conclusion, the Court finds that Rogers bars all of Plaintiff’s claims.”
Litigation expense and a pending dismissal motion did not, without more, justify emergency relief from discovery.
“Accordingly, Defendants do not identify an emergency warranting ex parte relief.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Pursuant to the Order Granting Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment 71, IT IS ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that judgment is hereby entered in favor of defendant General Motors LLC, and the action is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.”
“ORDER ACCEPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE by Judge Cynthia Valenzuela 86, 58 IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Defendants' Motion to Dismiss is granted and this matter is dismissed with prejudice.”
“For the foregoing reasons, Pepperdine’s Motion for a Temporary Restraining order is DENIED.”
“Accordingly, the Court issues a Preliminary Injunction and ORDERS as follows: For the pendency of this lawsuit, Respondents are enjoined and restrained from re-detaining Petitioner without notice and a pre-detention hearing.”
“For the foregoing reasons, the court GRANTS IN PART Petitioner’s Application”
“Accordingly, the Court issues a Preliminary Injunction and ORDERS as follows:”
“For the foregoing reasons, the court GRANTS IN PART Petitioner’s Application”
“For the foregoing reasons, Petitioners request for a Preliminary Injunction is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE and the Courts February 5, 2026, OSC is DISCHARGED.”
“For the foregoing reasons, the court GRANTS IN PART Petitioner’s Application”
“IT IS ADJUDGED that the petition is GRANTED. A writ of habeas corpus requiring Petitioner’s immediate release, unless he is afforded a new Rodriguez bond hearing within seven (7) days, shall issue.”
“IT IS ADJUDGED that the petition for writ of habeas corpus is GRANTED and this action is dismissed with prejudice.”
“Defendants' Motion to Dismiss [40] is GRANTED. The First Amended Complaint is DISMISSED with leave to amend.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
- Judge Valenzuela's initial calendar included cases transferred from predecessor judges, so durations in those inherited matters are not attributed to her.
- The reviewed decisions now also include cases filed during her tenure, particularly immigration-detention and habeas matters requiring expedited rulings.
- The sample remains too limited and nonrandom for a court-wide duration or disposition rate.
Draft for Judge Dixon with the record in hand
Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge Dixon, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.
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