Ricardo Manuel Urbina
Judge Urbina no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Urbina decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
He accepted a records search supported by detailed descriptions of likely systems, retrieval methods, and why other locations were unlikely to hold responsive material.
“the court is satisfied that the CIA conducted an adequate search for responsive records”
He allowed dismissal without prejudice rather than the requested prejudicial dismissal when a self-represented litigant had initially sought voluntary dismissal.
“The court, however, denies the defendant’s request to dismiss this case with prejudice.”
Cautions
He warned that copying legal analysis without attribution could trigger professional discipline.
“The court reminds counsel that such conduct is actionable by the bar's disciplinary committee.”
He gave self-represented litigants procedural guidance but did not treat that status as permission to ignore the civil rules.
“By no means, however, does a pro se plaintiff carry a ‘license ... to ignore the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.’”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“ORDERED that the plaintiffs’ motion for judicial notice is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part.”
“For the reasons stated above, the court denies the petition for a writ of habeas corpus.”
“ORDERED that the plaintiffs motion for default judgment is DENIED;”
“GRANTING THE DEFENDANT’S Motion to Dismiss”
“For the foregoing reasons, this court denies the petition for the expunction of the criminal record.”
“FURTHER ORDERED that the defendant’s motion [Dkt. # 90] to dismiss the complaint is GRANTED as conceded.”
“For the foregoing reasons, the court grants the CIA’s renewed motion for summary judgment and denies the plaintiffs motion for summary judgment.”
“For the foregoing reasons the court denies the petitioner’s motion for reconsideration.”
“Accordingly, the court will deny the defendants’ motion to dismiss for improper venue and timeliness, and will transfer this action to the United States District Court for the District of Maryland.”
“For the foregoing reasons, the court denies the petition for a writ of habeas corpus.”
“For the foregoing reasons, the court grants the defendant’s motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(1).”
“For the foregoing reasons, the court denies the plaintiffs renewed motion for discovery without prejudice to reconsideration of a renewed motion filed after the defendants have moved for summary judgment.”
A historical record
Judge Urbina no longer hears cases. This profile stays available as a record of how they ruled. If you're preparing for a matter, start from the court's current bench.