Michael S. Berg
How Judge Berg decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Procedural preferences
In a settlement involving a minor, Berg independently scrutinized the requested attorneys' fees and recommended reducing them from $58,480.76 to $24,260.36 before approval.
“Judge Berg also recommended that the attorneys' fees accounted for in the settlement be reduced from $58,480.76 to $24,260.36. ... In the absence of objections, the Court adopts Judge Berg's report and recommendation ... the parties' joint motion for settlement [Doc. 35, 40] is granted in part and denied in part.”
Cautions
On 28 U.S.C. 2254 habeas petitions he recommends dismissal where the petition is untimely, and the certificate of appealability is denied.
“On February 7, 2025, Magistrate Judge Berg issued the instant R&R, recommending the Court grant Respondent's motion and dismiss the case with prejudice. ... the Court hereby ADOPTS Magistrate Judge Berg's R&R in its entirety and GRANTS Respondent's motion to dismiss with prejudice.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“On December 23, 2022, Magistrate Judge Michael S. Berg issued a Report and Recommendation (‘Report’) recommending the Court grant the motion. ... the Court accepts Judge Berg's recommendation and ADOPTS the Report ... in its entirety ... the Court ... GRANTS the motion”
“Judge Berg also recommended that the attorneys' fees accounted for in the settlement be reduced from $58,480.76 to $24,260.36. ... In the absence of objections, the Court adopts Judge Berg's report and recommendation ... the parties' joint motion for settlement [Doc. 35, 40] is granted in part and denied in part.”
“On February 7, 2025, Magistrate Judge Berg issued the instant R&R, recommending the Court grant Respondent's motion and dismiss the case with prejudice. ... the Court hereby ADOPTS Magistrate Judge Berg's R&R in its entirety and GRANTS Respondent's motion to dismiss with prejudice.”
“On May 23, 2024, Magistrate Judge Michael S. Berg issued a Report and Recommendation (‘R&R’) that this Court deny the Petition. ... the Court ADOPTS the Magistrate Judge's Report and Recommendation, OVERRULES Petitioner's objections ... DENIES and DISMISSES the amended petition for writ of habeas corpus, and DENIES a certificate of appealability.”
“the Court RECOMMENDS that the District Court GRANT the Joint Motion”
“the Preservation Motions are DENIED”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Median case duration in the sampled dockets: 336 days (N = 10).
Put Judge Berg's record to work
Ezel drafts and answers grounded in this exact profile: how Judge Berg actually rules, not a generic AI guess.
Opens in Ezel Pro. Every answer is grounded in Judge Berg's own signed orders and cites them.