Serena Raquel Murillo

How Judge Murillo rules, drawn from 20 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.

Court
United States District Court for the Central District of California
Position
District judge
Appointed by
Joe Biden (Democratic)
Commissioned
January 9, 2025
ABA rating
Well Qualified
Education
University of California, San Diego (B.A., 1993); Loyola Law School, Los Angeles (J.D., 1996)
Signed orders read
20

About Judge Murillo

Serena Raquel Murillo is a United States District Judge for the Central District of California. President Joe Biden appointed her, and she received her commission on January 9, 2025. Before joining the federal bench, she served on the Los Angeles County Superior Court and worked as a deputy district attorney. She earned degrees from the University of California, San Diego and Loyola Law School.

Judge Murillo's practices and standing orders

Rules for cases before Judge Murillo, as published on the court's website (checked October 23, 2026). Judges revise these often, so confirm the current version on the court's site before you file.

Key rules

Motions

Civil motions are heard Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m.

“CIVIL matters are heard on Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m.”

Motions

Parties must consult the standing summary-judgment order before filing a Rule 56 motion.

“Before filing summary judgment/Rule 56 motions, parties must review and comply with the Court's applicable standing orders”

Discovery

Discovery matters are referred to the assigned magistrate judge.

“All discovery matters are referred to the assigned magistrate judge.”

Conferences

Hearings are in person in Courtroom 5D unless the court orders otherwise.

“ALL hearings will be heard IN PERSON in Courtroom 5D unless otherwise ordered by the court.”

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).

Key rules from these orders · The court's local rules ↗

How Judge Murillo decides

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

What persuades

In the Coleman franchise dispute, Murillo allowed joinder of a nondiverse party after evaluating the statutory factors and remanded the case.

“Because joinder of FERC destroys this Court’s jurisdiction over this action, Plaintiff’s Motion to Remand is GRANTED.”

In the Old Custom House property dispute, Murillo found the removal objectively unreasonable and awarded fees after remanding.

“The Court therefore awards Plaintiff Custom House attorneys’ fees in the amount of $2,800.”

Procedural preferences

In Pogosian, Murillo denied the first emergency application without prejudice because the petition was unverified and the supporting record did not supply reliable facts.

“For the above reasons, Petitioner’s Ex Parte Application is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.”

In A.G., Murillo denied a pseudonym request without prejudice after weighing the plaintiffs’ interest against the presumption of public access.

“Accordingly, Plaintiff’s Motion for Order to Proceed Under a Pseudonym [4] is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.”

Signed rulings

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

Richard Verret v. Warden
2:25-cv-00756 · 2025-09-05
Motions to dismiss (respondent) Granted

“ORDER ACCEPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS by Judge Serena R. Murillo for MOTION to Dismiss 9 , Report and Recommendation (Issued) 26 . IT IS ORDERED that the Respondent's Motion to Dismiss, Dkt. 9, is granted and that Judgment be entered denying the Petition and dismissing this action without prejudice. (hr)”

Richard Verret v. Warden
2:25-cv-00756 · 2025-09-05
Habeas petition (petitioner) Denied

“JUDGMENT by Judge Serena R. Murillo, Related to: R&R - Accepting Report and Recommendations 29 . IT IS ADJUDGED that the petition is DENIED and this action is dismissed without prejudice. (MD JS-6, Case Terminated). (hr)”

Robert Ashman v. Bristol Hospice - California, LLC
5:24-cv-02652 · 2025-09-16
Motions to remand (plaintiffs) Granted in part

“ORDER GRANTING IN PART PLAINTIFFS' MOTION TO REMAND TO SUPERIOR COURT AND FOR REASONABLE ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COSTS 12 19 by Judge Serena R. Murillo Granting in part and denying in part 12 MOTION to Remand Case to State Court Gr anting in part and Denying in part 19 MOTION to Remand Case to State Court: The Court, having considered Plaintiffs' Motion to Remand, Defendant's Opposition, and Plaintiffs' Reply, hereby GRANTS IN PART the Motion and ORDERS as fol lows: 1. The case is hereby REMANDED to the Riverside County Superior Court; and 2. Defendant Bristol Hospice is ORDERED to pay to counsel for Plaintiff the sum of $5,771.50. (see document for further details) MD JS-… [truncated]”

Joseph Cruz Hernandez-Pereira v. City of Azusa
2:24-cv-06001 · 2025-09-23
Summary judgment (defendants) Granted

“JUDGMENT by Judge Serena R. Murillo. The Court, having granted Defendants Motion for Summary Judgment in favor of Defendants on all claims, Dkt. 42 , hereby ORDERS as follows: 1. Judgment is entered in favor of Defendants City of Azusa, Andrew Avalos, and Rocky Wenrick on all of Plaintiff Joseph Cruz Hernandez-Pereira's claims; and 2. This action is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. The parties shall bear their own fees and costs. (MD JS-6, Case Terminated). (lom)”

M.T.M. v. Tonya Andrews
2:25-cv-08208 · 2025-09-24
Preliminary injunction (petitioner) Granted

“MINUTE ORDER (IN CHAMBERS) ORDER ENTERING PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION AS TO RESPONDENTS TONYA ANDREWS, MOISES BECERRA, KRISTI NOEM, PAM BONDI by Judge Serena R. Murillo. Accordingly, the Court ORDERS as follows: 1. Respondents, their officers, agents, servants, employees, and attorneys, and other persons who are in active concert or participation with Respondents shall not remove Petitioner to a third country, i.e., a country other than the countries designated as the countries of removal in Petitioner's final order of removal, without written notice to both Petitioner and Petitioner's counsel in a language the Petitioner can understand. Following notice, Petitioner must be given a meaningful opp… [truncated]”

Narine Pogosyan v. Pamela Bondi
5:25-cv-03121 · 2025-12-03
Motion for tro (petitioner) Granted in part

“ORDER GRANTING, IN PART, MOTION FOR A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER 2 by Judge Serena R. Murillo. For the above reasons, the Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order is GRANTED, IN PART. The Court ORDERS as follows:1. Respondents, their officers, agents, servants, employees, and attorneys, and other persons who are in active concert or participation with Respondents are ORDERED to provide Petitioner with an informal interview by December 10, 2025, as required under 8 C.F.R. § 241.13(i)(3). Respondents are further ORDERED to submit a declaration from the ICE official who conducted the interview by December 12, 2025. 2. This order will remain in effect until December 17, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. This … [truncated]”

Bhupender Bhupender v. Jaime Rios
5:26-cv-00545 · 2026-02-10
Motion for tro (petitioner) Denied

“ORDER DENYING WITHOUT PREJUDICE PETITIONER'S EX PARTE APPLICATION FOR TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER 2 by Judge Serena R. Murillo. Accordingly, Petitioner has not met his burden of showing he is entitled to temporary injunctive relief. For the above reasons, the Ex Parte Application is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. (lom)”

Levon Pogosian v. Ernesto Santacruz, Jr.
5:26-cv-00540 · 2026-02-11
Motion for tro (petitioner) Denied

“ORDER DENYING WITHOUT PREJUDICE PETIONER'S EX PARTE APPLICATION FOR TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER 2 by Judge Serena R. Murillo. For the above reasons, Petitioner's Ex Parte Application 2 is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. Respondents' untimely Response to the Ex Parte Application 9 is STRICKEN. *See Order for details* (gga)”

Narine Pogosyan v. Pamela Bondi
5:25-cv-03121 · 2026-02-23
Motion for tro (petitioner) Denied

“ORDER DENYING SECOND EX PARTE APPLICATION FOR A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER 18 by Judge Serena R. Murillo. For the reasons stated above, Petitioner has not made a clear showing that she is likely to succeed, or has a fair chance of success, on the merits of her claim that her supervised release order was improperly revoked. Accordingly, the Second Application for TRO is DENIED. The court orders petitioners to show cause in writing as to why the Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus should not be dismissed as moot. Petitioner must file her response on or before March 20, 2026. Respondents shall thereafter respond on or before March 27, 2026. Petitioners may reply on or before March 31, 2026. The… [truncated]”

Coleman Environmental Engineering, Inc. v. Payroll Vault Franchising, LLC
8:25-cv-01063 · 2026-03-13
Motions to remand (plaintiff) Granted

“ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF'S MOTION TO REMAND 30 by Judge Serena R. Murillo. Accordingly, the Court finds eight of the nine factors weigh in favor of joinder. Coupled with the strong presumption against removal, the Court exercises its di scretion to permit joinder of FERC. See 28 U.S.C. § 1447(e). Because joinder of FERC destroys this Court's jurisdiction over this action, Plaintiff's Motion to Remand is GRANTED. This case is REMANDED to Orange County Superior Court, Case No. 30-20-25-01471848-CU-PN-CJC. FERC's Motion to Dismiss, Dkt. 32, is DENIED AS MOOT. MD JS-6. Case Terminated. (lom)”

Motions to dismiss (defendant) Moot / procedural
Norma Rivera Becerra v. Kristi Noem
5:26-cv-00240 · 2026-03-19
Habeas petition (petitioner) Granted

“JUDGMENT by Judge Serena R. Murillo, Related to: R&R - Accepting Report and Recommendations 15 . The Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus is GRANTED. (MD JS-6, Case Terminated). (hr)”

Reyes Alvarez v. Albertsons LLC
8:25-cv-01440 · 2026-03-31
Motions to remand (plaintiff) Granted

“ORDER REGARDING PLAINTIFF'S MOTION TO REMAND AND DEFENDANT'S MOTION FOR CONSOLIDATION 11 19 by Judge Serena R. Murillo. Accordingly, the Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over this action and must remand this removed action. Thus, Plaintiff Alvarez's Motion to Remand is GRANTED. Dkt. 19. This action is REMANDED to the Superior Court of California, County of Orange, Case No. 30-2025-01486816-CU-OE-CXC. Defendant Albertsons' Motion for Consolidation is DENIED AS MOOT. Dkt. 11. MD JS-6. Case Terminated. (lom)”

Motion to consolidate (defendant) Moot / procedural

Caseload & timing

From public federal docket records for this judge.

A seeded sample of 15 among the 20 earliest assigned January 2025 filings included both pending and terminated matters, spanning civil rights, contract, consumer, and habeas cases. Separate decision review added remand and immigration-detention matters. Cases filed before commission are excluded from duration analysis.

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 months66
Bench trials submitted more than six months0
Bankruptcy appeals pending more than six months1
Social Security appeals pending more than six months0
Civil cases pending more than three years4
ReportMotions over six monthsCases over three years
Mar 2026664
Sep 202544
Mar 202525

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 Central District of California, not for Judge Murillo: 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.

CasesMedian time
All civil cases closed15,1903.9 months
Closed with no court action4,4143.1 months
Closed before pretrial10,5384.3 months
Closed during or after pretrial10317.9 months
Closed during trial13525.7 months
12 months endingCases closedMedian time
Sep 202515,1903.9 months
Sep 202415,3483.9 months
Sep 202313,5834.4 months
Sep 202212,8874.7 months
Sep 202114,2134.7 months
Sep 202014,2055 months
Sep 201913,4784.9 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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