Micah W. J. Smith
How Judge Smith decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Rejects municipal-liability (Monell) theories built on a single incident, requiring plaintiffs to identify a specific pattern, training deficiency, or policymaker ratification rather than inferring one from the severity of a single event.
“an inadequate training policy itself cannot be inferred from a single incident.”
Draws on persuasive (non-binding) decisions from other judges within the same district when they addressed materially similar facts, rather than treating the question as one of first impression.
“These conclusions draw support from an earlier decision in this District, Talana v. Liberty Surplus Insurance Corp., 2023 WL 2632219, which is not binding, but which is persuasive authority nonetheless.”
Applies Rule 9(b)'s heightened fraud-pleading standard practically, finding it satisfied when a complaint pleads concrete dates, actors, and specific misrepresentations, even without exhaustive detail.
“Rule 9(b) does not require omniscience; rather the Rule requires that the circumstances of the fraud be pled with enough specificity to put defendants on notice as to the nature of the claim.”
Procedural preferences
Frequently defers a final decision on leave to amend for pro se litigants, instead inviting a letter explaining how the pleading's deficiencies could be cured before deciding whether amendment would be futile.
“The Court defers decision, at this time, on the question of whether Jeffrey-Steven should be granted further leave to amend.”
Extends a Rule 4(m) service deadline retroactively rather than dismissing on a technicality, where the delay was brief and the defendants showed no concrete prejudice.
“the Court exercises its discretion to extend the service deadline under Rule 4(m) and deems Defendants Cribben, Quam Properties, and the HOA timely served.”
Regularly decides motions on the papers without oral argument under the district's local rule permitting it, in both dispositive-motion and emergency-relief contexts.
“The Court elects to decide the motion without a hearing, as authorized by Local Rule 7.1(c).”
Cautions
At summary judgment, treats unauthenticated emails and unsworn exhibits as insufficient to rebut a defendant's authenticated, sworn evidence -- a litigant relying on informal documentation without a declaration is likely to lose on that record.
“these emails and letters -- all of which are unauthenticated and unsworn -- are the only pieces of evidence in the record that support Thorson's claim.”
Will dismiss with prejudice and deny further leave to amend after multiple failed attempts to state a claim, once satisfied that repleading would be futile.
“Newman's motion for leave to amend is DENIED, and this action is DISMISSED with prejudice.”
Applies Younger abstention against pro se plaintiffs trying to litigate around an ongoing, related state-court proceeding, even a minor traffic case, rather than reaching the merits.
“the Younger abstention principle applies, and precludes the court from adjudicating Imamoto's claims.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Defendants' motion to dismiss the complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction is GRANTED.”
“Because there is no merit to any of his contentions that the Court erred, Jeffrey-Steven's motion for reconsideration of the Court's dismissal Order is DENIED.”
“Because Jeffrey-Steven has not offered any means for curing the jurisdictional deficiencies identified in the Court's dismissal Order, leave to amend would be futile. Accordingly, his request for leave to amend his complaint is DENIED.”
“No reasonable person, with knowledge of all the facts, would question the undersigned judge's impartiality for these reasons. ... Jeffrey-Steven's recusal motion is therefore DENIED.”
“Defendant City and County of Honolulu's Motion to Dismiss is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART. At Plaintiffs' request, they are granted leave to amend.”
“the court GRANTS Imamoto's in forma pauperis application, but DISMISSES the complaint.”
“The court also DENIES Plaintiff's Motion to Amend Complaint, ECF No. 7”
“DENIES Defendant HPD's Motion to Dismiss, ECF No. 5, as moot.”
“Newman's motion for leave to amend is DENIED, and this action is DISMISSED with prejudice.”
“the Court DENIES Defendant Mark F. Buckman's motion to dismiss”
“GRANTS Defendant Jennifer Buckman's motion to dismiss without prejudice and with leave to amend.”
“GRANTS the V2 Defendants' motion to dismiss the Lanham Act and trademark (or other trademark-related) claims under Rule 12(b)(6). ... this dismissal is with prejudice. ... GRANTS the motion to dismiss any such claims (solely as to Walsh) under Rule 12(b)(1) without prejudice.”
“the V2 Defendants' motion for judicial notice, which they filed in support of their motion to dismiss, is DENIED as moot.”
“GRANTS Defendants' motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim, insofar as it dismisses Plaintiff Steven Galarza and Defendants Rod Quam, Lysa Tracy, and Michael Deatrick without prejudice”
“DENIES Defendants' motion to dismiss for failure to timely serve process.”
“Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment, ECF No. 101, is GRANTED.”
“Thorson's motion for reconsideration, ECF No. 86, is DENIED.”
“her motion for a temporary restraining order, ECF No. 78, is DENIED.”
“Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment, ECF No. 16, is DENIED”
“Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment, ECF No. 21, is GRANTED.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
The sampled and browsed dockets show a broad general civil docket typical of a new district judge: prisoner civil-rights and habeas matters, Social Security appeals, employment and consumer disputes, insurance and contract cases, foreclosure, admiralty, and a securities-fraud enforcement action, with pretrial matters regularly referred to the district's magistrate judges.
Put Judge Smith's record to work
Ezel drafts and answers grounded in this exact profile: how Judge Smith actually rules, not a generic AI guess.
Opens in Ezel Pro. Every answer is grounded in Judge Smith's own signed orders and cites them.