Richard Lee Young
How Judge Young decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Section 1983 civil-rights cases he parses cross-motions for summary judgment claim by claim, denying the defense motion on triable claims (unlawful search/seizure, excessive force, battery) while granting it on others (unlawful arrest, Monell, false arrest), and denying the plaintiff's cross-motion.
“the court DENIES Defendants' motion for summary judgment (Docket # 48) with respect to Plaintiff's Fourth Amendment claims for unlawful search and seizure and excessive force, and with respect to Plaintiff's state law claim for battery, but it GRANTS Defendants' motion with respect to Plaintiff's Fourth Amendment claims for unlawful arrest and unlawful detention, Plaintiff's Section 1983 Monell claims, and state law claims for false arrest and false imprisonment.”
Cautions
Young's qualified-immunity analysis is notice-focused: he grants a defendant summary judgment where no clearly established precedent put the official on notice, and he declines to reach the constitutional merits once qualified immunity resolves the case.
“Given the novel set of facts presented in this case, Chaplain Gray is entitled to qualified immunity as to all claims, and the motion for summary judgment, dkt. [75], is granted.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Given the novel set of facts presented in this case, Chaplain Gray is entitled to qualified immunity as to all claims, and the motion for summary judgment, dkt. [75], is granted.”
“Defendants's Motion For Summary Judgment (Docket # 44) is GRANTED. Defendant's Motion to Strike (Docket # 50) and Plaintiff's Motion to Strike (Docket # 53) are DENIED AS MOOT. A separate final judgment in favor of NBI shall issue forthwith.”
“the court DENIES Defendants' motion for summary judgment (Docket # 48) with respect to Plaintiff's Fourth Amendment claims for unlawful search and seizure and excessive force, and with respect to Plaintiff's state law claim for battery, but it GRANTS Defendants' motion with respect to Plaintiff's Fourth Amendment claims for unlawful arrest and unlawful detention, Plaintiff's Section 1983 Monell claims, and state law claims for false arrest and false imprisonment.”
“The court DENIES Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment (Docket # 54) in its entirety.”
“the court GRANTS Plaintiffs' Partial Motion for Summary Judgment as to Liability (Filing No. 131)”
“GRANTS in part and DENIES in part Defendants' Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment (Filing No. 145). Defendants' Cross-Motion is granted only with respect to Plaintiffs' claim under 29 U.S.C. § 1132(a)(3) and denied on every other ground.”
“the Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment (Filing No. 109) is GRANTED.”
“Medrano's Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment (Filing No. 114) is DENIED.”
“the court DENIES as moot Plaintiffs' claim for injunctive relief under the November 2024 Policy in their Motion for Partial Summary Judgment (Dkt. 97). The court GRANTS Plaintiffs' other claim for injunctive relief under the August 2024 Policy.”
“the court GRANTS in part and DENIES in part Defendants' Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment (Dkt. 120).”
“the University Defendants' Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Subject Matter Jurisdiction (Filing No. 42) is GRANTED”
“Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction (Filing No. 12) is DENIED.”
“Defendant's motion for a reduction of his sentence (Filing No. 216) is DENIED.”
Put Judge Young's record to work
Ezel drafts and answers grounded in this exact profile: how Judge Young actually rules, not a generic AI guess.
Opens in Ezel Pro. Every answer is grounded in Judge Young's own signed orders and cites them.