Troy L. Nunley

How Judge Nunley rules, drawn from 30 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.

Court
United States District Court for the Eastern District of California
Position
district
Appointed by
Barack Obama (Democratic)
Commissioned
2013
ABA rating
Majority Qualified, Minority Well Qualified
Education
Saint Mary's College of California (B.A., 1986); University of California, Hastings College of the Law (J.D., 1990)
Signed orders read
30

How Judge Nunley decides

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

What persuades

In a recent immigration-detention habeas ruling, Nunley required a prompt hearing before a neutral fact-finder, placed the burden on the government by clear and convincing evidence, and required consideration of release alternatives and the petitioner's finances.

“Respondents bear the burden to justify Petitioner’s detention by clear and convincing evidence that Petitioner poses a danger to the community or a flight risk. The factfinder must consider alternative conditions of release and Petitioner’s financial circumstances in setting bond.”

Procedural preferences

When reviewing objections to a magistrate judge's recommendation, Nunley's recent orders expressly apply de novo review and ask whether the recommendation is supported by the record and proper analysis before adopting it.

“This Court has conducted a de novo review of this case. Having carefully reviewed the entire file, the Court finds the findings and recommendations to be supported by the record and by proper analysis.”

Signed rulings

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

Surrell v. CDCR Secretary of Operations
2:20-cv-00368-TLN-CKD · 2023-01-30
Summary judgment (defendant) Granted

“Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 111) is GRANTED.”

Summary judgment (plaintiff) Denied

“Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 120) is DENIED.”

Temporary restraining order (plaintiff) Denied

“Plaintiff's Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order (ECF No. 121) is DENIED.”

Motion to modify scheduling order (plaintiff) Moot / procedural

“Plaintiff's Motion to Modify the Scheduling Order (ECF No. 109) is DENIED as moot.”

Ryder v. Commissioner of Social Security
2:16-cv-01535-TLN-CMK · 2018-02-20
Summary judgment (plaintiff) Granted

“Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment (ECF No. 15) is granted;”

Summary judgment (defendant) Denied

“Defendant's cross-motion for summary judgment (ECF No. 18) is denied; ... The matter is remanded for further proceedings as set forth in the findings and recommendations”

Nevada Fleet LLC v. FedEx Corporation
2:17-cv-01732-TLN-KJN · 2018-04-09
Motion for leave to amend (plaintiff) Granted

“Although initially opposed, Defendant FedEx Corporation 'no longer opposes' the motion. (ECF No. 16.) Accordingly, the Court hereby GRANTS Plaintiff's Motion for Leave to File First Amended Complaint.”

Schneider v. County of Sacramento
2:20-cv-00383-TLN-JDP · 2021-10-19
Motions to dismiss (defendant) Granted

“the Court GRANTS the County's motion. (ECF No. 35.) Plaintiff's Monell claim against the County (Claim Three) is DISMISSED.”

Malaran v. United States
2:23-cv-00547-TLN-AC · 2023-06-26
Motions to dismiss (defendant) Granted

“The motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction (ECF No. 5) is GRANTED ... and this case is DISMISSED in its entirety.”

Motions to remand (plaintiff) Denied

“the motion for remand and amended motion for remand (ECF Nos. 7, 10) are DENIED”

Geerts v. Security National Insurance Co.
2:24-cv-02514-TLN-AC · 2025-10-24
Judgment on the pleadings (defendant) Granted

“the Court amends its Order granting Defendant's Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings to be with prejudice. All claims in this action are dismissed.”

Driscoll's, Inc. v. California Berry Cultivars, LLC
2:19-cv-00493-TLN-CKD · 2025-03-25
Summary judgment (defendant) Granted

“For the foregoing reasons, the Court GRANTS Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment. (ECF No. 138.) The Clerk of Court is directed to enter judgment in Defendants' favor as to Plaintiff's claims.”

Rollins v. United Healthcare Services, Inc.
2:21-cv-01023-TLN-DMC · 2022-03-08
Motion to compel arbitration (defendant) Granted

“the Court GRANTS Defendant's Motion to Compel Arbitration (ECF No. 5) and STAYS the case pending completion of arbitration.”

Gress v. Smith
2:13-cv-00328-TLN-KJN · 2019-02-26
Summary judgment (defendant) Granted in part

“Defendants' motions for summary judgment are granted in part, and denied in part, as follows ...”

Gilbert v. Mane
1:22-cv-00574-TLN-AC · 2024-01-10
Default judgment (plaintiff) Granted

“Plaintiff's September 5, 2023 motion for default judgment (ECF No. 20) is GRANTED”

Bennett v. Reisig
2:25-cv-02103-TLN-DMC · 2026-01-23
Preliminary injunction (plaintiff) Denied

“Petitioner's motion for preliminary injunction (ECF No. 14) is DENIED”

Motion for reconsideration (plaintiff) Moot / procedural

“Petitioner's motion for reconsideration (ECF No. 11) is DENIED as MOOT”

Harris v. LSP Products Group, Inc.
2:18-cv-02973-TLN-KJN · 2021-06-29
Motions to dismiss (defendant) Granted

“Defendant's Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 69) is hereby GRANTED ... [some claims] are DISMISSED with leave to amend ... [other nationwide-class claims] are DISMISSED without leave to amend”

Caseload & timing

From public federal docket records for this judge.

The June 2026 sample is dominated by immigration-detention habeas petitions from California detention facilities, along with consumer-finance, employment, and other pro se civil matters. Older terminated cases include prisoner civil-rights actions and Social Security appeals referred to magistrate judges. The reported duration comes from a terminated prisoner civil-rights case reviewed in depth.

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Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge Nunley, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.

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