Dale Emerson Saffels
Judge Saffels no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Saffels decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Saffels required evidence capable of supporting a jury finding before allowing an employment-retaliation claim to proceed.
“Because no reasonable jury could find on these facts that the plaintiff was discharged in retaliation”
He ordered an evidentiary hearing when the record could support a claim that counsel gave materially incorrect deportation advice.
“the court finds that an evidentiary hearing is necessary in this case.”
Procedural preferences
He demanded specific factual detail before authorizing criminal subpoenas for pretrial document production.
“the requests must contain the following factual information”
He enforced local fee-motion procedures when movants failed to document consultation and submit supporting briefing.
“A party seeking attorneys’ fees must comply with the requirements of D.Kan. Rule 54.2 and Fed.R.Civ.P. 54(d)(2)”
Cautions
He dismissed claims when the party invoking federal jurisdiction did not carry its burden.
“the plaintiffs have clearly failed to demonstrate that any of their claims arise under federal law.”
He dismissed a diversity action when the parties shared citizenship in the same state.
“the parties in this case share Kansas as their state of citizenship.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“the defendant’s Motion to Order the BOP To Comply with their Order is denied.”
“the defendant’s Motion to Compel Govt. To Rile Rule 35 (Doc. 216) is denied.”
“defendant’s Ex Parte Motion Requesting Pretrial Production of Documents Pursuant to Subpoenas (Doc. 89) is denied.”
“plaintiffs attorney is awarded fees under EAJA in the amount of $4,300.00.”
“the defendant’s request for an evidentiary hearing is granted.”
“Set Aside, or Correct Sentence by a Person in Federal Custody (Doc. 66) is denied.”
“defendant’s Motion to Withdraw Guilty Plea (Doc. 95) is denied.”
“the Government’s Motion to Take Deposition, Pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 15(a) (Doc. 100) is denied.”
“Defendant’s Motion to Quash Subpoenas to Blackwell, Sanders, Peper, Martin, LLP (Doc. 99) is denied.”
“defendant’s request to seal the motions is denied.”
“defendant’s motion for sanctions under Rule 11 (Doc. 57) is denied.”
“the defendant’s motion for summary judgment (Doc. 64) is granted.”
“the plaintiffs motion in limine (Doc. 61) is denied as moot.”
“plaintiff’s motion to suppress is denied.”
“defendant’s motion for summary judgment is granted.”
“plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment is denied.”
“the defendant’s Motion for Continuance (Doc. 21) is granted.”
“the defendant’s Motion for Waiver of Speedy Trial (Doe. 30) is denied.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Median case duration in the sampled dockets: 1679.5 days (N = 20).
The 20 located assigned cases filed from 1980 through 1987 were all terminated and are not a career-wide caseload measure.
A historical record
Judge Saffels 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.