Ruth Bermudez Montenegro
How Judge Montenegro rules, drawn from 23 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
How Judge Montenegro decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Grants a defendant's motion to dismiss but allows the plaintiff to file an amended complaint curing the noted deficiencies.
“For the reasons discussed above, Defendants’ motion to dismiss (Doc. 17) is GRANTED. Plaintiff may file an amended complaint on or before July 28, 2023 which cures the deficiencies noted above.”
In an immigration-detention challenge involving renewed custody after years in the United States, grants habeas relief and orders immediate release before any later hearing on renewed detention.
“Based on the foregoing reasons, the Petition (Doc. 1) is GRANTED. Accordingly: 1. The Government is ORDERED to immediately release the noncitizen from custody.”
Procedural preferences
Denies a motion to strike, exercising discretion in favor of deciding cases on their merits.
“Based on the foregoing, Defendants’ Motion to Strike (Doc. 62) and the requests set forth in Defendants’ Statement of Plaintiff’s Non-Opposition (Doc. 60) are DENIED. The Court exercises its discretion to consider Plaintiff’s Opposition to Defendants’ MSJ.”
Cautions
On a fully-developed record, grants a defendant's motion for summary judgment.
“Defendant Trader Joe's Company's Motion for Summary Judgment ('the Motion') is GRANTED.”
In a prolonged immigration-detention challenge, may order a prompt bond hearing while declining the petitioner's request for immediate release.
“Based on the foregoing reasons, the Amended Petition (Doc. 7) is GRANTED IN PART. To the extent that Petitioner requests to be released from custody, the Amended Petition is DENIED.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“For the reasons discussed above, Defendants’ motion to dismiss (Doc. 17) is GRANTED. Plaintiff may file an amended complaint on or before July 28, 2023 which cures the deficiencies noted above.”
“Based on the foregoing reasons, the Court GRANTS Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss. All claims are DISMISSED with leave to amend. Plaintiff may file an amended complaint in accordance with the directives above on or before January 5, 2026.”
“Based on the foregoing, Defendants’ Motion to Strike (Doc. 62) and the requests set forth in Defendants’ Statement of Plaintiff’s Non-Opposition (Doc. 60) are DENIED. The Court exercises its discretion to consider Plaintiff’s Opposition to Defendants’ MSJ.”
“Based on the foregoing, Defendants’ Motion is DENIED.”
“Defendant Trader Joe's Company's Motion for Summary Judgment ('the Motion') is GRANTED.”
“the Court GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART CCMG's Motion and County's Motion as detailed herein... DENIES AS MOOT CCMG's Motion for the wrongful death claim... DENIES CCMG's Motion concerning economic damages”
“the Court GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART CCMG's Motion and County's Motion as detailed herein... DENIES the County's Motion for qualified immunity... GRANTS the County's Motion for the supervisory claims for failure to train and failure to supervise and discipline against Defendant Gore... GRANTS the County's Motion for the punitive damages claim.”
“Defendants’ MSJ (Doc. 22) is GRANTED. The Clerk of Court is instructed to enter judgment accordingly and to close this case.”
“Based on the foregoing, Defendant’s Motion is DENIED.”
“the Premier Defendants with leave to amend (Doc. 313)”
“the three motions to dismiss and numerous joinders filed by the Dentist Defendants with”
“DENIES AS MOOT the motions to dismiss filed”
“Defendant’s Motion to Compel Arbitration (Doc. 9) is GRANTED. This case is STAYED pending conclusion of arbitration pursuant to the terms of the Arbitration Agreement.”
“the Petition (Doc. 1) is GRANTED. Accordingly: 14 1. Respondents are ORDERED to immediately release Petitioner from custody”
“Petitioner’s TRO Motion (Doc. 3) is DENIED AS MOOT.”
“Accordingly, the Court GRANTS Defendant’s MTD (Doc. 6) as unopposed and the First Amended Complaint is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Median case duration in the sampled dockets: 193 days (N = 8).
Median motion-to-ruling time: 171 days (N = 4).
- The sampled docket has a substantial criminal component typical of a border district, alongside securities, civil-rights, disability-access, Social Security, habeas, copyright, and medical-malpractice matters.
- Montenegro's 2026 docket is dominated by alien-detainee habeas petitions and is not representative of her broader merits caseload.
- Many civil matters were referred to magistrate judges for pretrial proceedings.
Draft for Judge Montenegro with the record in hand
Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge Montenegro, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.
Opens in Ezel Pro.
- Grounded in Judge Montenegro's own signed orders
- Cites every source it relies on, so you can verify it
- Chat, drafting and research in one workspace