Erin Guy Castillo
How Judge Castillo rules, drawn from 21 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
How Judge Castillo decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In prolonged immigration detention matters, Castillo distinguishes among immediate release, an individualized bond hearing, and no present relief based on the governing detention statute, elapsed detention, removal prospects, and procedural posture. Where detention under Section 1226(c) became unreasonably prolonged, she recommended a bond hearing rather than automatic release.
“unreasonably prolonged, and that due process now requires an individualized bond hearing.”
Procedural preferences
Requests for volunteer civil counsel must satisfy the exceptional-circumstances test; ordinary difficulties of incarceration, limited legal training, and indigence do not suffice when the litigant can articulate the claims.
“circumstances exist warranting the appointment of counsel. Rand, 113 F.3d at 1525.”
Cautions
A prisoner subject to the three-strikes bar must allege specific facts showing a genuine and proximate danger at the time of filing; conclusory or historical allegations do not open the imminent-danger exception.
“Plaintiff’s allegations do not satisfy the imminent danger exception to section 1915(g).”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Plaintiff’s construed motion for an extension of time (Doc. 50) is GRANTED;”
“request for the appointment of counsel (Doc. 43) is DENIED.”
“Plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment, (Doc. 13), be GRANTED;”
“substantial evidence and is therefore VACATED, and the case is REMANDED to the ALJ for”
“not find that the interests of justice require appointment of counsel at the present time.”
“petition, (Doc. 1), be DISMISSED without prejudice.”
“Plaintiff’s application to proceed IFP (Doc. 2) be DENIED and Plaintiff be precluded”
“motion for disqualification (Doc. 14) is DENIED.”
“(Doc. 25), is GRANTED. Plaintiff is AWARDED $15,595.00 in attorney’s fees.”
“Plaintiff is GRANTED a 60-day extension of time, from the date of service of this”
After the plaintiff paid the filing fee, Castillo vacated findings and recommendations that had proposed denying construed injunctive relief. The order resolved no motion on its merits and is retained only to document the procedural sequence.
“The Pro Hae Vice Application is APPROVED .”
“petition, (Doc. 1), be DISMISSED without prejudice.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Median motion-to-ruling time: 3 days (N = 9).
The twenty oldest matters assigned after Castillo's appointment, filed from May 4 through June 1, 2026, were all pending when reviewed. They included seven prisoner or civil-detainee civil-rights matters, seven other civil matters, three Social Security appeals, and three habeas petitions. The short, all-pending window is descriptive only.
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