Carolyn K. Delaney
How Judge Delaney decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Procedural preferences
Resolves prisoner cross-motions for summary judgment by issuing findings and recommendations, which the assigned district judge adopted in full.
“FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS signed by Magistrate Judge Carolyn K. Delaney on 11/9/22 RECOMMENDING 111 Motion for Summary Judgment be granted, 120 Motion for Summary Judgment be denied, 121 Motion for TRO be denied and the action dismissed. [ADOPTED in FULL by District Judge Troy L. Nunley on 1/30/2023]”
Cautions
Recommends denying a prisoner-plaintiff's request for a temporary restraining order and dismissing the action.
“RECOMMENDING ... 121 Motion for TRO be denied and the action dismissed. [ADOPTED in FULL: 'DENYING 121 Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order']”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS signed by Magistrate Judge Carolyn K. Delaney on 11/9/22 RECOMMENDING 111 Motion for Summary Judgment be granted, 120 Motion for Summary Judgment be denied, 121 Motion for TRO be denied and the action dismissed. [ADOPTED in FULL by District Judge Troy L. Nunley on 1/30/2023]”
“RECOMMENDING ... 120 Motion for Summary Judgment be denied ... [ADOPTED in FULL by District Judge Troy L. Nunley on 1/30/2023: 'DENYING 120 Motion for Summary Judgment']”
“RECOMMENDING ... 121 Motion for TRO be denied and the action dismissed. [ADOPTED in FULL: 'DENYING 121 Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order']”
In a pro se prisoner case, Delaney learned that the plaintiff had died and set a Rule 25(a) substitution deadline. When no motion to substitute was filed, she recommended sua sponte dismissal.
In a pro se prisoner case, the plaintiff failed to file a completed in forma pauperis application or pay the filing fee within 30 days. Delaney recommended sua sponte dismissal without prejudice under Rule 41(b).
“IT IS ORDERED that the above-captioned action is remanded to the Commissioner of Social Security for further proceedings pursuant to the fourth sentence of Section 205(g) of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 405(g).”
“IT IS ORDERED that the above-captioned action is remanded to the Commissioner of Social Security for further proceedings pursuant to the fourth sentence of Section 205(g) of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 405(g).”
“1. Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment (ECF No. 12) is denied; 2. The Commissioner's cross-motion for summary judgment (ECF No. 14) is granted; and 3. Judgment is entered for the Commissioner.”
“1. Defendant Lester's motion to dismiss (ECF No. 27) is GRANTED; 2. Defendant City of Davis' motion to dismiss (ECF No. 28) is GRANTED; 3. Defendant Bonta's motion to dismiss (ECF No. 30) is GRANTED; 4. Plaintiff's FAC (ECF No. 16) is DISMISSED with leave to amend”
“IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that petitioner's application for a writ of habeas corpus (ECF No. 1) be denied.”
“IT IS RECOMMENDED that petitioner's “Motion for Emergency Stay and Release Pending Habeas Review” (ECF No. 2) be denied.”
“Defendant's motion to compel (ECF No. 32) is GRANTED in PART, to the extent that within 30 days of service of this order, plaintiff shall do the following:”
“Plaintiff's motion to modify the scheduling order (ECF No. 34) is DENIED.”
On Rule 4 preliminary review of a pro se 28 U.S.C. 2254 petition challenging ongoing state criminal proceedings, the court applied Younger v. Harris abstention and recommended the third amended petition be summarily dismissed and the case closed. Sua sponte screening disposition on no party motion; grounding language: “IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that: 1. Petitioner's third amended petition for a writ of habeas corpus (ECF No. 11) be summarily dismissed; and 2. This case be closed.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Delaney is a long-serving Sacramento magistrate judge whose caseload is dominated by referred prisoner civil-rights, habeas, and filing-fee screening matters. Because she serves as a referral judge rather than the final assigned judge in many of these cases, the available sample does not provide a complete caseload census.
Put Judge Delaney's record to work
Ezel drafts and answers grounded in this exact profile: how Judge Delaney actually rules, not a generic AI guess.
Opens in Ezel Pro. Every answer is grounded in Judge Delaney's own signed orders and cites them.