Joseph C. Spero
How Judge Spero decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
He recommends enforcing an Internal Revenue Service summons, directing the respondent to appear for examination and produce the requested records.
“The Court has reviewed Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Spero's Report and Recommendation regarding enforcement of an Internal Revenue Service summons against Respondent Margaret Watson. The Court finds the Report well-reasoned and thorough, and adopts it in every respect. Accordingly, Petitioner's summons shall be ENFORCED and the Respondent shall appear for examination and provide the requested books, papers, records and data.”
Procedural preferences
On a removed case Spero recommends granting remand where removal is improper and denying the plaintiff's accompanying motion for attorney's fees; district judges adopt his Report as well-reasoned and thorough.
“The court has reviewed Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Spero's Report and Recommendation regarding plaintiff's motion to remand. Defendant filed no objections within the time allowed under 28 U.S.C. Section 636(b)(1). The court finds the Report correct, well-reasoned and thorough, and adopts it in every respect. Accordingly, plaintiff's motion to remand the case to the Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo, is GRANTED.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The court has reviewed Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Spero's Report and Recommendation regarding plaintiff's motion to remand. Defendant filed no objections within the time allowed under 28 U.S.C. Section 636(b)(1). The court finds the Report correct, well-reasoned and thorough, and adopts it in every respect. Accordingly, plaintiff's motion to remand the case to the Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo, is GRANTED.”
“Plaintiff's motion for attorney's fees is DENIED.”
“The Court has reviewed Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Spero's Report and Recommendation regarding enforcement of an Internal Revenue Service summons against Respondent Margaret Watson. The Court finds the Report well-reasoned and thorough, and adopts it in every respect. Accordingly, Petitioner's summons shall be ENFORCED and the Respondent shall appear for examination and provide the requested books, papers, records and data.”
“On August 22, 2019, I declined to adopt Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Spero's recommendation to remand the case because, although it was improper for Woodruff to remove the action as only defendants may remove a case, one of the defendants filed a notice of intent to remove the case.”
“the Motion is GRANTED and all of Plaintiff’s claims are dismissed. Because Plaintiff may be able to cure the defects discussed above, Plaintiff is given leave to file an amended complaint”
“the Motion is DENIED to the extent it seeks dismissal of 16 Plaintiff’s Title VII and ADEA national origin discrimination claims based on failure to exhaust 17 administrative remedies. The Motion is GRANTED as follows.”
“Accordingly, the Transfer Motion is DENIED.”
“The Motion to Dismiss is DENIED except as to Plaintiff’s claim for injunctive relief, 3 which is dismissed without prejudice.”
“For the reasons stated above, the Motion is DENIED.”
“Plaintiffs’ motion is GRANTED, and the case is 25STAYED pending the outcome of the criminal charges pending against Plaintiffs.”
“The Westminster Defendants’ motion to dismiss is DENIED as moot, without prejudice to 2any argument they might raise in a renewed motion to dismiss after the stay is lifted.”
“the Motion is GRANTED. This case shall be remanded to the 17 Alameda County Superior Court.”
“the Court GRANTS the parties’ request for final approval of 4 the Settlement Agreement and awards $958,681.61 in attorneys’ fees”
“the Motion is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part. The 5Court ORDERS that the United States produce:”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
As an initially assigned San Francisco magistrate judge, Spero handles a broad civil mix that includes disability-access, consumer, copyright, employment and education civil-rights, immigration, public-records, admiralty, cargo, and foreclosure matters. His caseload also reflects substantial settlement and consent-case work. The durations measure filing to termination, not motion-to-ruling time.
Put Judge Spero's record to work
Ezel drafts and answers grounded in this exact profile: how Judge Spero actually rules, not a generic AI guess.
Opens in Ezel Pro. Every answer is grounded in Judge Spero's own signed orders and cites them.