Dena M. Coggins
How Judge Coggins rules, drawn from 13 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
How Judge Coggins decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In repeated immigration-detention cases, treats objections that merely repeat previously rejected arguments as insufficient to displace a recommendation granting due-process relief.
“those arguments were addressed and rejected by the magistrate judge and the undersigned in this case and in other cases.”
In a residential-foreclosure dispute, granted temporary relief where the homeowner showed serious merits questions and the risk of losing a primary residence outweighed the short delay to the sale.
“the balance of the equities tips sharply in Plaintiff’s favor. Plaintiff faces the risk of losing his primary residence, while the issuance of a temporary restraining order would delay the foreclosure sale”
Cautions
Grants a defendant's motion for summary judgment and enters judgment for the defendant, closing the case.
“2. Defendants' motion for summary judgment (Doc. No. 57) is granted; 3. Judgment shall be entered in favor of Defendants; and 4. The Clerk of the Court is directed to close this case.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“2. Defendants' motion for summary judgment (Doc. No. 57) is granted; 3. Judgment shall be entered in favor of Defendants; and 4. The Clerk of the Court is directed to close this case.”
Sua sponte screening disposition under 28 U.S.C. Section 1915A. The magistrate found cognizable Eighth Amendment excessive-force and First Amendment retaliation claims and recommended dismissing the remaining claims without leave to amend because no amended complaint had been filed. With no objections, Coggins adopted the recommendation after de novo review. The order states: '1. The findings and recommendations issued on January 28, 2025 (Doc. No. 14) are ADOPTED in full... 3. All other claims... and all other defendants... are dismissed.'
“Respondent’s motion to dismiss Petitioner’s mixed petition (Doc. No. 13) is granted;”
“Petitioner’s motion for a stay and abeyance under Rhines v. Weber, 544 U.S. 269 (2005) (Doc. No. 20) is denied;”
“Plaintiffs’ motion for a temporary restraining order (Doc. No. 2) is GRANTED1;”
“Plaintiff’s motion for preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order, ECF No. 28, are DENIED;”
“Petitioner Carolina Dussan Pineda’s motion for temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction (Doc. No. 3) is GRANTED;”
“The petition for writ of habeas corpus, ECF No. 1, is GRANTED;”
“Respondents’ motion to dismiss, ECF No. 6, is DENIED;”
“The petition for writ of habeas corpus (ECF No. 1) is GRANTED;”
“Respondent’s motion to dismiss (ECF No. 6) is DENIED;”
“Petitioner’s petition for writ of habeas corpus (Doc. No. 1) and motion for a temporary restraining order (Doc. No. 2) are GRANTED as follows:”
“Petitioner’s petition for writ of habeas corpus (Doc. No. 1) and motion for a temporary restraining order (Doc. No. 2) are GRANTED as follows:”
“habeas corpus (ECF No. 1) is GRANTED;”
“Respondents’ motion to dismiss (ECF No. 10) is DENIED;”
“Petitioner’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis (Doc. No. 5) is DENIED as having been rendered moot by this order;”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Because Coggins joined the court in September 2024, her caseload is dominated by a June 2026 surge of immigration-detention habeas petitions, along with inherited prisoner civil-rights cases and general consumer or product disputes. Many merits dispositions so far have involved district-court action on magistrate-judge recommendations.
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