Karla R. Spaulding
Judge Spaulding no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Spaulding decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
A former federal prosecutor (drug-trafficking, appellate, and fraud sections) who applies close, statute- and record-tied analysis to whatever is referred to her, whether admiralty lien doctrine, FLSA damages math, Rule 23 predominance, or fee-shifting standards.
“I respectfully recommend that Plaintiff International Marine Research Institute Inc.'s Dispositive Motion for Summary Judgment ... be GRANTED as to the claim in Count One ... and DENIED in all other respects.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“I respectfully recommend that Plaintiff International Marine Research Institute Inc.'s Dispositive Motion for Summary Judgment ... be GRANTED as to the claim in Count One that Rumpel does not have a maritime lien against the Vessel Victoria ... in the amount of $300,000, and DENIED in all other respects.”
“I recommend that Plaintiff's Motion for Entry of Default Judgment, doc. no. 60, be GRANTED in part and DENIED in part.”
“I respectfully recommend that the Court DENY without prejudice Plaintiffs' Motion for Class Certification (Doc. No. 72), with leave to refile it, if appropriate ...”
“I respectfully recommend that the Court DENY in part Defendant Richard Goble's Motion for Attorneys' Fees and Costs, Doc. No. 155.”
“The decision of the Commissioner is hereby REVERSED, and this case is REMANDED for further proceedings consistent with the Report and Recommendation.”
“The United States' Motion to Strike and/or Dismiss Third Party Petitioner's Claim is hereby GRANTED. Karla M. Rodriguez-Colon's Forfeiture Claim (Doc. No. 80) is hereby DISMISSED.”
In this federal capital case, Judge Spaulding held two competency hearings and recommended finding the defendant unable to stand trial and committing him for restoration treatment. She declined to require advance notice to defense counsel of medications, and the district judge overruled the limited objection and adopted her recommendation in full.
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
The reviewed caseload is descriptive and does not establish a grant rate. Judge Spaulding's referred matters produced reports and recommendations, while cases assigned with the parties' consent were dominated by Social Security appeals. Her 2017-2018 consent work also included other civil cases carried to judgment, including a TCPA suit that settled and was dismissed without prejudice.
A historical record
Judge Spaulding 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.