Michael B. Kaufman

United States District Court for the Central District of California magistrate 9 signed orders read

How Judge Kaufman decides

Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.

What persuades

In 2241 immigration habeas he frames unlawful re-detention as a due-process violation and remedies it structurally: not just release, but an injunction against re-detention absent a material change in circumstances plus pre-deprivation notice and a hearing -- targeting the procedure, not only the present custody.

“the Court concludes that Petitioner Baryolo's re-detention violated due process ... a writ of habeas corpus be issued requiring Petitioner's immediate release and prohibiting his re-detention absent a material change in circumstances and pre-deprivation notice and a hearing.”

Procedural preferences

He builds compliance verification into his habeas relief, ordering respondents to file a status report within seven days confirming they have complied (held the bond hearing / released the petitioner) -- keeping the case under supervision until the remedy is actually carried out.

“the Respondents shall file a status report no later than seven (7) days from the date of this Order confirming that Petitioner has had a bond hearing, consistent with this order.”

Signed rulings

A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.

Lennier Gutierrez Baryolo v. Markwayne Mullins
5:26-cv-02838 · 2026-06-04
Habeas petition (petitioner) Granted

“ORDER GRANTING PETITION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS by Magistrate Judge Michael B. Kaufman. For the foregoing reasons, the Court concludes that Petitioner Baryolo's re-detention violated due process. Accordingly, the Court ORDERS the following: (1) Judgment be entered granting the Petition as to Petitioner; (2) a writ of habeas corpus be issued requiring Petitioner's immediate release and prohibiting his re-detention absent a material change in circumstances and pre-deprivation notice and a hearing.”

David Olea-Cruz v. Warden, Adelanto Detention Center
5:26-cv-02631 · 2026-05-27
Habeas petition (petitioner) Granted

“ORDER GRANTING PETITION AND ISSUING A WRIT FOR HABEAS CORPUS by Magistrate Judge Michael B. Kaufman, re Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus, 1. IT IS ORDERED that: the Respondents shall file a status report no later than seven (7) days from the date of this Order confirming that Petitioner has had a bond hearing, consistent with this order.”

Amanjot Singh v. Warden of the Desert View Facility
5:26-cv-02931-MBK · 2026-06-05
Habeas petition (petitioner) Granted

“ORDER GRANTING PETITION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS by Magistrate Judge Michael B. Kaufman. For the foregoing reasons, the Court concludes that Petitioners re-detention violated due process.”

Sergey Melkumyan v. Fereti Semaia
5:26-cv-03019-MBK · 2026-06-16
Habeas petition (petitioner) Denied

“IT IS ADJUDGED that the petition for writ of habeas corpus is DENIED and this action is dismissed.”

Ponciano Nava Mojica v. Fereti Semaia
5:26-cv-03028-MBK · 2026-06-12
Habeas petition (petitioner) Granted

“IT IS ADJUDGED that the petition for writ of habeas corpus is GRANTED and this action is dismissed with prejudice.”

Erica Antonia Benavidez-Pena v. Fereti Semaia
5:26-cv-03228-MBK · 2026-06-25
Habeas petition (petitioner) Granted

“IT IS ADJUDGED that the petition for writ of habeas corpus is GRANTED and this action is dismissed with prejudice.”

Dora Yulissa Lucas Ochoa v. Warden Adelanto ICE Processing Center
5:26-cv-03342-MBK · 2026-07-01
Habeas petition (petitioner) Granted

“RELEASE ORDER GRANTING PETITION AND ISSUING A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS by Magistrate Judge Michael B. Kaufman, re Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus 1 . IT IS ORDERED that: (1) Judgment be entered granting the Petition; (2) a writ of habeas corpus be issued requiring Petitioner”

Areli Hernandez Ocampo v. Fereti Semaia
5:26-cv-03489-MBK · 2026-07-01
Habeas petition (petitioner) Granted

“Pursuant to the Courts Order Granting Petition, IT IS ADJUDGED that the petition for writ of habeas corpus is GRANTED.”

Yixi Sun v. Warden of Adelanto ICE Processing Center
5:26-cv-03595-MBK · 2026-07-14
Habeas petition (petitioner) Granted

“the Court grants the Petition and issues a writ of habeas corpus requiring Petitioner”

Caseload & timing

From public federal docket records for this judge.

Median case duration in the sampled dockets: 11 days (N = 2).

Median motion-to-ruling time: 11 days (N = 2).

His recent caseload is dominated by immigration-detention habeas petitions, many decided by consent on an expedited schedule. He also receives direct civil assignments and handles preliminary matters referred by district judges.

Put Judge Kaufman's record to work

Ezel drafts and answers grounded in this exact profile: how Judge Kaufman actually rules, not a generic AI guess.

Opens in Ezel Pro. Every answer is grounded in Judge Kaufman's own signed orders and cites them.